largely unusable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely unusable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is mostly not functional or practical for a specific purpose. Example: "The software update was intended to improve performance, but it turned out to be largely unusable due to numerous bugs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Research

Technology

Infrastructure

Resources

Data

Facilities

Proposals

Equipment

Systems

Water supply

Capacity

Petroleum

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The use of computers in research results in a larger, fuller digital record (data sets, simulations, etc). that remains largely unusable for lack of a comparable infrastructure of descriptive practices, data curation, repositories, and access services.

University of California, Berkeley

Any pages or sections which are largely unusable (for example, due to incorrectly written code or non-functioning links) may be removed from the server until they are corrected.

Harvard University

But the main reason that the government is now stuck with a park of largely unusable capacity is that power prices have increased significantly, without a proportionate increase in water prices.

The New York Times

While there is high demand from both those industries, the small grains and high sulfur content of this petroleum coke make it largely unusable for those purposes, said Kerry Satterthwaite, a petroleum coke analyst at Roskill Information Services, a commodities analysis company based in London.

The New York Times

But between 70 and 80percentt of that data is unstructured — that is, "dark" — and therefore largely unusable when it comes to processing and analytics.

TechCrunch

Amid the water emergency there, where lead contamination rendered the water supply largely unusable for residents, the federal government sought ways to get more people to follow directions on how to cope safely with the crisis.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Seawater intrusion is rendering our drinking water unusable and ocean acidification has already largely destroyed our coral reefs and thus the marine life population.

Huffington Post

Thanks largely to my technical know-how, the DVD sat, unusable, for months.

The New York Times

By this time, however, the front lines in the battle had begun to largely stabilize, and as both armies fortified stationary positions, the Rangers infiltration abilities became unusable.

Wikipedia

The countertops, cooking surfaces and appliances were at an unusable or even dangerous height for a seated chef, and cupboards and shelves were largely unreachable.

The New York Times

This raises an interesting question: if policymakers routinely resolve to make decisions largely based on academic research, and given that relevant academic research often does not exist or is unusable in its current format, could that actually be counter-productive?

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "largely unusable" with specific reasons for its state. For example, "The data was largely unusable due to corruption during transfer."

Common error

Avoid using "largely unusable" when something is entirely non-functional. The word "largely" implies a degree of remaining usability, however small. If there is no usability at all, state that it is completely unusable instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely unusable" typically functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, describing a noun by indicating that it is mostly not fit for use. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is both grammatically correct and semantically valid, with numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

27%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "largely unusable" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe something that is mostly not functional or practical. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from academic and scientific discussions to news reporting and general communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the context supports the implication of partial but limited usability. Consider alternatives such as "mostly impractical" or "primarily ineffective" to fine-tune the message. Avoid using the phrase if the item is completely unusable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Essentially unusable

Highlights that something is unusable in its most important aspects.

Mostly impractical

Emphasizes the lack of practicality more directly.

For the most part, unusable

Adds a nuance meaning "in the majority of cases".

Largely impractical

Swaps 'unusable' for 'impractical' to focus on workability.

Substantially inoperative

Focuses on the functional aspect, suggesting it doesn't work well.

Primarily ineffective

Highlights that it fails to achieve the desired effect.

Mainly unserviceable

Implies it is not fit for service or use due to its condition.

Predominantly out of commission

Suggests the item is officially not in use or operation.

Significantly impaired

Highlights the reduced functionality or capability.

Almost non-functional

Emphasizes a near-complete lack of function.

FAQs

What does "largely unusable" mean?

The phrase "largely unusable" means that something is mostly not able to be used, often because of damage, flaws, or other issues that significantly impair its functionality. It implies that while some limited use might still be possible, it's generally impractical or ineffective.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "largely unusable"?

Use "largely unusable" when describing something that retains a minimal degree of functionality, but is significantly impaired. For complete lack of usability, alternatives such as "completely unusable" or "entirely unusable" are more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to saying "largely unusable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "mostly impractical", "substantially inoperative", or "primarily ineffective". Choose the phrase that best captures the specific reason for the limited usability.

Is "largely unusable" formal or informal?

The phrase "largely unusable" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a neutral expression that can be used in academic writing, news reports, or casual conversation.