however unable to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however unable to" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when attempting to express a contrast or limitation in ability, but it needs to be part of a larger, grammatically correct sentence. Example: "She wanted to help with the project; however, she was unable to due to prior commitments."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We are, however, unable to accept your request.

The New York Times

Egan was, however, unable to pull off a complete coverup.

The New Yorker

Croft was, however, unable to get it into print.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He is, however, unable to reveal the future location of their former residents.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sonenshine was, however, unable to offer a rebuttal to every line of questioning she could foresee.

The Guardian

He was, however, unable to resist the lure of the land.

The New York Times

Now, however, unable to hold every village, the police have gone, and the KLA is back.

The Economist

However, unable to further exploit his victory, he returned to the Maghrib.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The SFIO was, however, unable to match the success it achieved in the 1945 election.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unlike his father, he was, however, unable to restore strong central government after his long minority.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, unable to build the big early partnership that facilitates later slogging, they never quite threatened it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing contrast, consider using "but unable to" or "yet unable to" instead of "however unable to" for improved grammatical clarity.

Common error

Avoid starting sentences or clauses with "however" followed immediately by "unable to". It often creates an awkward construction. Instead, try restructuring the sentence to integrate the contrast more smoothly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however unable to" functions as a transitional phrase indicating a contrast or limitation. Although found in numerous contexts (as shown by Ludwig), it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English, often requiring restructuring for better flow.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "however unable to" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. It's used to express contrast and limitation but is often considered awkward. For clearer and more effective writing, it's best to use alternatives like "but unable to" or "yet unable to". When constructing sentences, prioritize smoother integration of contrasting ideas to avoid grammatical issues associated with this phrase. The phrase sees usage across science, news, and encyclopedic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not able to

Provides a simpler and more direct alternative.

could not

Offers a concise and common way to express past inability.

but unable to

Replaces "however" with "but" for a simpler contrast.

yet unable to

Substitutes "however" with "yet" to indicate a contrasting situation.

though unable to

Replaces "however" with "though" to introduce a contrast or concession.

nevertheless unable to

Uses a more formal conjunction to express the contrast.

still unable to

Emphasizes the continuation of the inability despite previous efforts.

failed to

Indicates an unsuccessful attempt or inability to achieve something.

unfortunately unable to

Adds an element of regret or disappointment to the inability.

incapable of

Replaces the entire phrase with a direct statement of incapability.

FAQs

How can I use "however unable to" in a sentence?

While "however unable to" isn't ideal, you can use it as part of a longer, grammatically correct sentence. For example: "She tried her best; however, she was unable to succeed."

What can I say instead of "however unable to"?

You can use alternatives like "but unable to", "yet unable to", or "though unable to" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical flow.

Which is correct, "however unable to" or "but unable to"?

"But unable to" is generally preferred over "however unable to" as it provides a clearer and more concise contrast.

What's the difference between "however unable to" and "nevertheless unable to"?

"Nevertheless unable to" is a more formal way of saying "however unable to", but both express a contrast. It is better to opt for grammatically simpler options like "but unable to".