incapable of maintaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incapable of maintaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition where someone or something cannot sustain or uphold a particular state or standard. Example: "The system proved to be incapable of maintaining the required temperature for optimal performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Otherwise they are incapable of maintaining an arms industry.

The Washington Post

For Mr. Junger, democracy was incapable of maintaining order.

The New York Times - Arts

Demagogues are incapable of maintaining an allegiance to interests other than their own.

The New Yorker

Without them the Iraqis have proved incapable of maintaining food production, let alone increasing it.

The Economist

In practice, though, he seems incapable of maintaining the distinction for long.

The Economist

St. John's has been a team of mood swings this season, incapable of maintaining its highs or quickly pulling out of its lows.

The New York Times - Sports

It was just in a handful of key positions, most crucially at hooker and half-back, that they proved so disastrously incapable of maintaining their standards.

The Guardian - Sport

Politically cautious and primarily motivated by their economic interests, merchants have now reasoned that the regime is incapable of maintaining stability.

The Guardian - Opinion

But they proved incapable of maintaining order in the state, which in 1450 surrendered to Filippo Maria's son-in-law, the powerful condottiere Francesco Sforza.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Vulnerable, and grappling with the new diagnosis, Pearson first searched online to find out more about her condition, where she was met with characterizations of people with BPD as violent and incapable of maintaining relationships.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You've already seen Nick Helm in BBC3's Uncle, in which he plays the slackerish title character, incapable of maintaining a relationship with anyone other than his pre-adolescent nephew.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incapable of maintaining", ensure that the subject's inability is clearly linked to a specific action or state. For example, "The old system was incapable of maintaining stable network connections."

Common error

Avoid using "incapable of maintaining" when the situation implies difficulty or challenge rather than complete impossibility. Instead, consider phrases like "struggling to maintain" or "finding it difficult to maintain" to convey a more nuanced meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incapable of maintaining" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its inability to sustain or continue a certain state or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incapable of maintaining" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective phrase that describes the inability to sustain something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "unable to sustain" exist, "incapable of maintaining" effectively conveys a definitive lack of capacity. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in linking the subject's inability to the specific action, and avoid overstating the incapability where a more nuanced description is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to sustain

Focuses on the inability to keep something going over time.

not able to uphold

Emphasizes the failure to support or defend a standard or principle.

deficient in preserving

Highlights a lack of the necessary qualities to keep something intact.

lacking the capacity to retain

Emphasizes the absence of the ability to hold onto or keep something.

incompetent at conserving

Suggests a lack of skill in protecting or saving something.

powerless to perpetuate

Focuses on the inability to cause something to continue indefinitely.

failed to preserve

Indicates a past failure to keep something in its original condition.

not equipped to conserve

Highlights a lack of the necessary resources or tools to protect something.

without the means to retain

Emphasizes the absence of resources needed to hold on to something.

unfit to safeguard

Suggests a lack of suitability or preparedness to protect something.

FAQs

How can I use "incapable of maintaining" in a sentence?

You can use "incapable of maintaining" to describe something or someone's lack of ability to sustain a certain condition or standard. For example, "The old infrastructure was "incapable of handling" the increased traffic."

What are some alternatives to "incapable of maintaining"?

Some alternatives include "unable to sustain", "not able to uphold", or "deficient in preserving", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "incapable of maintaining" or "not capable to maintain"?

"Incapable of maintaining" is the correct phrasing. "Not capable to maintain" is grammatically awkward; it's better to use "unable to maintain" if you want to use that structure.

What's the difference between "incapable of maintaining" and "struggling to maintain"?

"Incapable of maintaining" suggests a complete lack of ability, whereas "struggling to maintain" implies an attempt is being made but facing significant difficulty. The first suggests failure is inevitable, the second suggests failure is possible but not certain.