likely unable

USAGE SUMMARY

"likely unable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is probably not able to be done. For example, "We are likely unable to repair the damage before the next storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Passer's daughter, Joyce, a psychiatric nurse who specialized in geriatrics, had been abruptly removed as her father's co-guardian, because she appeared "unwilling or (more likely) unable to conduct herself rationally in the Ward's best interests," according to motions filed by one of Shafer's attorneys.

The New Yorker

Most of the 3D printers that crowdfunded over the past years are likely unable to finance a second production run — if they even delivered on the first.

TechCrunch

The PCB, touch, and display layers are likely unable to take that sort of miniaturization right now anyway, though that's no guarantee they won't in the future.

TechCrunch

When the bacterial toxin puts the kibosh on it, human cells are likely unable to churn out many of their building blocks.

Science Magazine

The magnitude of our results suggests that the budget for an average low-income household with children is severely inflexible and likely unable to absorb more than a $2 to $3 reduction in nutrition benefits per child per week.

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

As for motivations, unlike the unpaid crowdsourcing projects we reviewed, the tasks in the case studies seem to be only beneficial to the requester and are likely unable to motivate volunteers.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Walmart will likely be unable to keep up, experts suggest.

The Guardian - Tech

The US will hit its borrowing limit in mid-October and would likely be unable to pay all its bills soon after, the Treasury warned on Monday.

The Guardian - Business

'Given the rapid evolution of fashion trends, Plaintiff and Class will likely be unable to purchase these shoes' in the future.

The New York Times

The firm has now written down the holdings by 75 percent — an acknowledgement that the embattled country will most likely be unable to fully repay its loans.

The New York Times

Biofuel is also a heavily subsidized energy source and would likely be unable to compete in the current market without government subvention.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing in a formal or scientific context, use "likely unable" to present a measured assessment of capability, avoiding overly strong or definitive statements.

Common error

Avoid using "likely unable" when absolute certainty is warranted. If the inability is definitively known, use stronger language such as "certainly unable" or "definitely incapable" to convey the appropriate level of assurance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely unable" functions as an adjectival modifier describing a state of reduced capability or expected inability. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that the subject is expected to be incapable of performing a certain action. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely unable" is a versatile expression used to convey a reasoned expectation of inability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. While the phrase is typically neutral in tone, care should be taken not to overstate the certainty of the inability; if absolute certainty is warranted, stronger language should be used. As an alternative one can consider "probably incapable" or "unlikely to be able". The phrase's prevalence across diverse sources confirms its status as a common and acceptable expression in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probably incapable

Replaces "likely" with "probably" and "unable" with "incapable", maintaining the meaning but altering the specific word choices.

most likely incapable

Adds emphasis with "most", suggesting a higher degree of certainty regarding the inability.

unlikely to be able

Rephrases the expression to focus on the lack of likelihood of being able to do something.

possibly unable

Replaces "likely" with "possibly" which softens the phrase, indicating a lower degree of certainty.

not expected to be able

Expresses an expectation of inability, shifting the focus to anticipation rather than probability.

predicted to be unable

Implies a forecast or prediction of inability, adding a sense of formal assessment.

potentially incapable

Substitutes "likely" with "potentially", which suggests something might occur, which is very different from something probable to happen.

forecasted to be unable

Similar to "predicted", but suggests a more detailed or scientific basis for the expectation of inability.

apt to be incapable

Replaces "likely" with "apt", suggesting a natural tendency toward being incapable.

bound to be unable

Indicates a high degree of certainty about the inability, implying a constraint or inevitability.

FAQs

How can I use "likely unable" in a sentence?

You can use "likely unable" to express a reasonable expectation of inability. For example, "Due to the extent of the damage, the team is "likely unable" to complete the repairs before the deadline."

What are some alternatives to saying "likely unable"?

Alternatives include "probably incapable", "possibly unable", or "unlikely to be able" depending on the context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Which is correct, "likely unable" or "unlikely able"?

"Likely unable" is the more grammatically sound and commonly used phrase. "Unlikely able" is not a standard construction in English.

What is the difference between "likely unable" and "potentially unable"?

"Likely unable" suggests a higher probability of inability based on current circumstances, while "potentially unable" indicates that there is a possibility of inability, but it is not necessarily the most probable outcome. The context must determine the final phrasing.