if ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if ability" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a conditional situation regarding someone's capability, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "If ability allows, I will complete the project by the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

However, if ability and expectations are fairly well set by an early age, postponing tracking during adolescence may not have much effect.

Journal of Public Economics

If ability to drive or use of Medicare is associated with use of mentholated cigarettes, some bias might occur.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

This possibly introduced recall bias, particularly if ability to recall use of a particular method and immunization are both associated with some unobserved factor.

BMC Pediatrics

Figure 4 figure supplement 1B shows a dearth of points in the low expression/weak bias quadrant, as expected if ability to detect bias increases with expression.

eLife

Moreover, as has been previously reported for patients with sepsis [ 14] or meningococcal septic shock [ 11], we found that TRX levels were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors, even if ability to predict ICU death was not robust.

Critical Care

If ability to maintain integrated functioning is what distinguishes life from death, as the current definition of death holds, then I argue that a dead brain does not stop such functions from continuing.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

If abilities to achieving vital goals are indeed the most important things in people's lives, then they (i.e. health) should be the most important social goals.

Bioethics

Nicely weighted if the ability is still there.

The Guardian - Sport

If this ability can be enhanced, astronauts may be able to tolerate prolonged cosmic ray exposure.

The New York Times

If our ability to privately search is ever jeopardized, Facebook will turn into a ghost town.

The New York Times

Now it looks as if With Ability will go to Monmouth, on the Jersey Shore.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, always specify what the ability refers to. For example, instead of "if ability", write "if the ability to drive" or "if the ability to pay".

Common error

Avoid using "if ability" without specifying the skill or capacity in question. This often leads to ambiguity and makes the sentence difficult to understand. For example, avoid saying "If ability, we will proceed", but say instead: "If we have the ability to secure funding, we will proceed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if ability" functions as a conditional clause, setting a requirement based on having a certain skill or capacity. However, it is often considered grammatically incorrect due to its lack of clarity. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it lacks clarity and context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "if ability" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI suggests that it is grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. It functions as a conditional clause but often requires additional context to be fully understood. For improved clarity, consider using alternatives such as "if capable" or specifying the ability in question, such as "if the ability to pay exists". While used in neutral contexts like news and scientific articles, it should be avoided in formal writing. There are better ways to express your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if capable

Replaces "ability" with a direct adjective indicating capability.

depending on the ability

Highlights how something changes or varies according to someone's competence or skill.

if the ability exists

Adds clarity by explicitly stating the existence of the ability as a condition.

given the capacity

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", which conveys a similar meaning.

assuming the ability

Expresses the condition as an assumption of having the ability.

conditional on ability

Uses a formal structure to state conditionality based on the ability being present.

provided the ability

Specifies that something is provided or happens only if the ability is present.

in the event of ability

Uses a more formal tone, indicating something will occur should the ability arise.

should the ability exist

Inverts the sentence structure for emphasis, focusing on the existence of the ability.

if there is an ability

Breaks down the phrase to its most basic components, clarifying the condition.

FAQs

How can I use a conditional clause related to ability correctly?

Instead of the ambiguous "if ability", specify the type of ability using phrases like "if the ability to [do something] exists" or "if capable of [doing something]".

What phrases are similar to "if ability" but more grammatically sound?

Consider using alternatives like "if capable", "provided the ability", or "assuming the ability" depending on the context you want to convey.

Is "if ability" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "if ability" is not correct and lacks clarity. While it appears in some sources, it's recommended to use more explicit and grammatically sound alternatives for clearer communication.

How does the context influence the best alternative for "if ability"?

The ideal alternative depends on the specific meaning you want to convey. If you want to emphasize capability, use "if capable". If you're setting a condition, "provided the ability" might be more appropriate.