is that capable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is that capable" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to inquire about someone's ability or the capability of something, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "I need to know if that is capable of handling the workload we discussed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Not every creator is that capable, however, and when a heavily serialized concept doesn't work — say, HBO's "Luck," before its horse issues came to light — it's likely to be a terminal problem, because there isn't the foundation of competent weekly storytelling to hold the series up.

The New York Times - Arts

Another insight is that capable, entrepreneurial firms can be dragged down by a bad business and policy environment.

Huffington Post

The ideal ICU bed/population ratio is that capable of ensuring that all patients likely to benefit from critical care can be admitted to the ICU, while keeping bed occupancy high, as unoccupied beds result in costs for no benefit.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"We're a still a ways away from being that team we're capable of being.

The New York Times - Sports

We are capable of being that".

Los Angeles Times

Then you get into what is that space capable of.

Vice

My greatest hope is that humans are capable of adapting and learning.

The New Yorker

The ultimate lesson, perhaps, is that nobody is capable of governing well for long.

The Economist

One of the attractive features of the electoral college is that it is capable of evolution.

The Economist

"What's exciting is that it is obviously capable of reproducing," Ms. Johnson said.

The New York Times

The bad news, of course, is that Iran is now capable of making a nuclear bomb.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about capability, ensure clarity by specifying what the subject needs to be capable of. Instead of asking "is that capable?", specify the action or task, such as "is that capable of handling the workload?"

Common error

Avoid vague questions about capability. Always clarify the context: instead of "is that capable?", specify what the subject needs to be capable of doing to avoid ambiguity. For example use: "is that algorithm capable of processing this data?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is that capable" primarily functions as an interrogative phrase designed to question or assess the ability, competence, or capacity of a subject (person, object, or system) to perform a specific action or fulfill a certain requirement. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in standard written English and lacks clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is that capable" is used to inquire about the ability or potential of someone or something, but it's grammatically ambiguous and can be seen as incorrect in standard written English. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase lacks clarity and proper structure. While examples can be found in various sources like The New York Times and Huffington Post, it is recommended to clarify the context by specifying what the subject needs to be capable of. Alternatives such as "is that able to", "can that handle", or "does that have the capacity for" provide better clarity and grammatical correctness, making them suitable for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is that able to

Replaces 'capable' with 'able', maintaining the same inquiry about ability.

is that equipped to

Focuses on whether something has the necessary equipment or resources.

is that competent to

Competence relates to the required or adequate abilities or qualities.

can that handle

Emphasizes the capacity to manage or deal with a specific task or situation.

does that have the capacity for

Highlights the inherent capacity or potential for something.

is that suited for

Suitability focuses on whether it's appropriate or compatible.

is that designed to

Focuses on the intended purpose or functionality of something.

is that up to the task

Inquires whether someone or something can perform the task.

is that qualified for

Qualification emphasizes the necessary skills or credentials.

is that prepared to

This focuses on readiness to undertake something.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "is that capable" in a sentence?

While not grammatically standard, "is that capable" can be clarified by specifying what the subject needs to be capable of. For example, "Is that machine capable of processing large datasets?" is clearer.

What are some alternatives to asking "is that capable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "is that able to", "can that handle", or "does that have the capacity for".

Which is more grammatically correct, "is that capable" or "is that capable of"?

"Is that capable of" is grammatically correct because it includes the necessary preposition "of" to link "capable" with the action or quality being described. "Is that capable" by itself is incomplete.

Is "is that capable" formal or informal language?

Due to its questionable grammatical structure, "is that capable" is best avoided in formal writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "is that able to" or "is that equipped to" in professional contexts.