impede the ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impede the ability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors that hinder or obstruct someone's capacity to do something. Example: "The new regulations may impede the ability of small businesses to compete in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is a crime against nature for humans to impede the ability of wildlife (animals and plants) to travel.

University of California, Berkeley

In addition to these significant hurdles, criminal histories can severely impede the ability of a welfare recipient to obtain a job.

The New York Times

But for doctors, it can seriously impede the ability to make diagnoses, particularly in areas related to attention, communication and language development.

The Guardian

"If this court case is deemed to apply to all facilities, that could definitely delay and impede the ability of these projects to be developed," he said.

The New York Times

Some experts had feared that having numerous patents on individual genes would impede the ability to sequence and analyze a person's entire genome, though others doubted that.

The New York Times

Subsequent analysis of virus delivery and spread in vivo has demonstrated that the tumour microenvironment can impede the ability of OVs to effectively infect and spread.

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews

Liabilities of newness and smallness could possibly impede the ability of new ventures to develop the product design capabilities needed to increase product variety.

Journal of Operations Management

In addition, the expansion of roads and decline in total forested area – two common measures of fragmentation – may impede the ability of tree species to colonize available habitat.

Forest Ecology and Management

An ABC News spokesman, Jeffrey Schneider, said the division had no comment on the buyouts, though he added that any losses would not impede the ability to remain competitive in reporting the news.

The New York Times

"I don't believe it is their objective to break the Siniora government or impede the ability of Lebanon to extend its sovereignty down to its border over time," he added, referring to the Lebanese prime minister.

The New York Times

Furthermore, if an institutional investor had representatives on a company's board, securities law restrictions on insider trading and short-swing profits would severely impede the ability of that institution to sell that company's stock.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impede the ability", ensure the context clearly defines what is causing the impediment. Specificity strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "impede the ability" in overly passive constructions. Directly state who or what is causing the impediment for a more impactful sentence. For example, instead of "The ability was impeded by regulations", write "Regulations impeded the ability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impede the ability" functions as a verbal phrase, often acting as the predicate of a clause. It describes the action of something hindering or obstructing a capacity or skill. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

37%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impede the ability" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe something that hinders or obstructs a capacity or skill. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for a variety of contexts, ranging from scientific and academic writing to news reporting and business communication. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "constrain the ability" or "hinder the ability", the choice often depends on the specific nuance you aim to convey. For optimal clarity, specify the cause of the impediment and avoid overly passive constructions. Its prevalence in authoritative sources ensures its reliability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Constrain the ability

Emphasizes a limitation or restriction, making the ability narrower or smaller.

Hinder the ability

Suggests making it more difficult or slower to use an ability.

Inhibit the ability

Indicates a reduction or prevention of an ability's function.

Prevent the ability

Focuses on completely stopping or precluding the ability from being used.

Obstruct the ability

Highlights the blocking or impeding of the ability, often through direct interference.

Hamper the ability

Implies making the ability less effective or more difficult to use.

Stymie the ability

Suggests blocking the ability in a way that completely thwarts its progress.

Cripple the ability

Emphasizes severely damaging or weakening the ability.

Undermine the ability

Focuses on weakening the foundations or effectiveness of the ability.

Compromise the ability

Suggests that the ability is put at risk or diminished, though not necessarily stopped completely.

FAQs

How can I use "impede the ability" in a sentence?

You can use "impede the ability" to describe something that hinders or obstructs someone's capacity to do something. For example, "The new regulations may impede the ability of small businesses to compete."

What are some alternatives to "impede the ability"?

Alternatives include "constrain the ability", "hinder the ability", or "inhibit the ability", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "impede the ability" or "hinder the ability"?

Both "impede the ability" and "hinder the ability" are correct and often interchangeable. "Impede" suggests a more significant obstruction, while "hinder" implies a slowing or making something more difficult.

What does "impede the ability" mean?

"Impede the ability" means to obstruct, hinder, or delay the capacity to do something. It suggests that something is making it difficult or impossible for someone to perform an action or task.