less capabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less capabilities" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression should be "fewer capabilities" since "capabilities" is a countable noun. Example: "The new software has fewer capabilities than the previous version."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I see other people who have less capabilities, but who get jobs in civil aviation because of their connections".

The Guardian

Devices with less capabilities can be configured to use simplified execution sequences which contain less network services.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This seems to confirm migration transition theory, according to which materially poor populations of the least developed countries have less capabilities to move, and when they move, they tend to move over shorter distances, either internally, or to other African countries.

Comparative Migration Studies

Harnessing the power of globalization has the potential to create real change for diabetes communities throughout the world, as countries with less capabilities benefit from strong global coalitions.

Globalization and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Both the SW defect and vacancies might be more capable of absorbing energy from the ripples, but have less capability to spread the gained energy again.

Carbon

He was right, and The Times is wrong in proposing cuts that would result in both fewer troops and less capability.

The New York Times

For a time cars with the new hardware would have less capability to assist drivers with steering or braking than older cars running Tesla's Autopilot, Musk said.

The Guardian - Tech

The administration obtained a stay of that ruling until May 31, he disclosed, but after that date he intelligence officials had "significantly less capability" to track foreign communications.

The New York Times

But that's significantly less capability than it once had: From 2008 through mid-2011, it controlled over half of Somalia and strategically important towns on the Ethiopian and Kenyan border.

The New York Times

"The Israeli view is that because they have less capability to deal with Iran, they have less time to allow this to go on," one senior American official said.

The New York Times

The report said that although the insurgents had less capability to directly attack American and Afghan forces, they had increasingly resorted to "assassinations, kidnappings, intimidation tactics, encouraging insider attacks and strategic messaging campaigns".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to countable nouns like capabilities, use "fewer" instead of "less" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "fewer capabilities".

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., fewer options, fewer capabilities).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less capabilities" functions as a quantifier modifying a noun. However, it's grammatically incorrect because "capabilities" is a countable noun. According to Ludwig AI, the correct term should be "fewer capabilities".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "less capabilities" is used to indicate a reduction in abilities, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct phrase is "fewer capabilities" because "capabilities" is a countable noun. Ludwig AI identifies this as a grammatical error. Examples are rare, appearing in news, scientific, and formal contexts. For clarity and correctness, always use "fewer capabilities" or alternatives like "reduced capabilities" or "limited capabilities".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer capabilities

Replaces "less" with "fewer" to correct the grammatical error, as "capabilities" is a countable noun.

reduced capabilities

Uses "reduced" to indicate a decrease in capabilities, offering a grammatically sound alternative.

limited capabilities

Employs "limited" to convey that capabilities are restricted or not extensive.

decreased capabilities

Substitutes "less" with "decreased", emphasizing a reduction in ability.

diminished capabilities

Uses "diminished" to suggest a weakening or reduction in capabilities.

lower skill set

Replaces "capabilities" with "skill set" to reflect a reduced set of skills or abilities.

less potential

Uses potential as more abstract term that translates capabilities

restricted abilities

Restates "capabilities" as "abilities", highlighting limitations.

less competence

Replaces "capabilities" with "competence" to indicate a reduced level of skill or proficiency.

weakened capacities

Expresses "capabilities" as "capacities", suggesting a decline in strength or effectiveness.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "less capabilities"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. "Capabilities" is a countable noun, so you should use "fewer capabilities" instead of "less capabilities".

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "less capabilities"?

You can use phrases like "fewer capabilities", "reduced capabilities", or "limited capabilities".

When should I use "fewer" instead of "less"?

"Fewer" should be used with countable nouns—things you can count individually. "Less" is used with uncountable nouns—things you can't count individually, such as water, time, or effort.

How can I remember the difference between "less" and "fewer"?

A simple trick is to ask if you can put a number in front of the noun. If you can (e.g., "three capabilities"), use "fewer". If you can't (e.g., you wouldn't say "three waters"), use "less".