less capable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less capable for" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not typically used in this form; a more appropriate structure would be needed to convey the intended meaning. Example: "He is less capable for this task than his colleague."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Does it mean a female heart surgeon is less capable for one week a month?

BBC

The reputation-based SoNR shows significant reduction in routing overhead since AODV and DSR are less efficient in identifying the presence of malicious nodes and are less capable for malicious node-aware effective data forwarding.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Moreover, the cross-sectional design might be less capable for causal inference as well as for assessing the responsiveness of the EQ-5D-5L in this measurement.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As their age increased, they were less and less capable of living for even an instant without the other, or without thinking about the other.

The New Yorker

The problem is that the service companies are less capable of investing for the long term, because their balance sheets tend to be weaker than the majors'.

The Economist

For example, spatial analysis of distributions, as applied in this paper, can investigate who, in society, may be more or less capable of attaining, for example, biogas and, by extension, who might need to be targeted/supported, and where, to facilitate capability and functioning in fair ways.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

An attractive model to explain the elimination of Bmpr1a− / − ESCs is that defective BMP signaling made Bmpr1a− / − ESCs less capable of competing for limiting amounts of BMPs that act as a survival factor (Moreno and Basler, 2004; Moreno et al., 2002).

Developmental Cell

40 Other chronic medical conditions implicated in the association include severe kidney disease, a risk factor for CVD 41 and, as diseased kidneys are less capable of making the adaptations necessary for a healthy pregnancy, also a risk factors for miscarriage.

Heart

While STRUCTURE and DAPC clusters generated from each data set easily separated individuals into similar groups, distance methods were less capable of identifying reproducible groups for the different data sets.

BMC Plant Biology

Conceivably, the importation of both sugar and proton by this kind of MFS family symporter would change the PMF gradient and further acidify the cell, especially in the presence of the weak acid acetate or in stationary phase when metabolism decreases and the cells are less capable of pumping protons out for energy regeneration.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Most data structures for packet forwarding are optimized for IPv4, and less capable of handling IPv6 routing tables.

Computer Communications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "less capable for". Instead, opt for more grammatically correct alternatives like "less suited to", "less qualified for", or "not as capable of" depending on the context.

Common error

The preposition "for" typically indicates purpose or recipient. When describing a lack of capability, use "of" (e.g., "less capable of") or rephrase the sentence to use "suited to" or "qualified for", which are followed by different prepositions or structures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less capable for" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, aiming to describe a diminished ability or suitability. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is not considered standard English. It's often intended to express that someone or something is not as well-equipped or qualified for a particular task or role.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less capable for" might seem intuitively understandable, it's grammatically incorrect and not standard English. Ludwig AI flags this issue, advising against its use. The intended meaning—indicating a reduced level of ability or suitability—can be more effectively conveyed using alternatives like "less suited to", "less qualified for", or "less capable of". Although examples can be found in news and scientific sources, adopting these alternatives enhances clarity and grammatical correctness, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less suited to

Replaces "capable for" with "suited to", focusing on appropriateness for a specific purpose or situation.

less qualified for

Emphasizes a lack of necessary qualifications or credentials.

less equipped for

Highlights a deficiency in resources or preparation.

not as able to

A more general phrasing indicating a reduced level of ability.

less proficient in

Focuses on a lower level of skill or expertise in a particular area.

less skilled at

Similar to "less proficient in", but with a slightly more informal tone.

less apt to

Suggests a lower likelihood or inclination to do something successfully.

less inclined to

Highlights a reduced willingness or desire to perform a task.

less effective at

Indicates a reduced level of impact or success in performing a task.

not as competent in

Suggests a lower level of general competence or capability.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "less capable for"?

Consider alternatives like "less suited to", "less qualified for", or "less capable of", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "less capable" correctly in a sentence?

Use "less capable of" followed by a verb (e.g., "less capable of performing the task") or replace the whole expression using alternative like "less suited to" followed by a noun (e.g. "less suited to the job").

Is "less capable for" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "less capable for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "less capable of" or alternatives such as "less qualified for" to maintain formality.

What's the difference between "less capable for" and "less capable of"?

"Less capable for" is not standard English. The correct phrase is "less capable of", which indicates a reduced ability to perform an action or task. Also, consider using phrases such as "less suited to".