limited success

USAGE SUMMARY

"limited success" is a correct and usable form of written English.
You might use the phrase in a sentence such as "The team had some limited success at the tournament."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That has met with limited success.

The New York Times

Limited success doesn't mean doomed, though.

The Guardian - Tech

There have been some limited success stories.

The Guardian

"Yes, but with limited success," he sighed.

The Guardian

With only limited success, it turned out.

The Guardian

Limited success with the Czars didn't help much.

The Guardian - Music

Efforts have been made to soften this, with limited success.

The New York Times - Travel

Similar cases have come up elsewhere, usually with limited success.

The New York Times

The novella labors over the theme with limited success.

The New York Times - Books

On both fronts, there was only limited success.

The New York Times

So far that has met with limited success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "limited success", clearly specify the area or aspect where the success was limited to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "The project had limited success", specify "The project achieved limited success in reducing costs but was effective in improving efficiency."

Common error

Avoid using "limited success" when there was actually no success at all. The phrase implies some positive outcome, even if it's not substantial. If there was no success, use terms like "failure" or "unsuccessful attempt".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "limited success" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "limited" modifies the noun "success". It generally acts as a subject or object in a sentence, describing the degree to which an attempt or endeavor has achieved its goals, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "limited success" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe outcomes that have achieved some positive results, but fall short of complete success. According to Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for various contexts, from news and media to science and business. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide context to specify where the success was limited to prevent misinterpretation. Remember to avoid using it when there was no success. Consider related phrases like "modest achievement" or "partial accomplishment" for alternative expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest achievement

Emphasizes the achievement is small in scale or impact.

partial accomplishment

Highlights that only a part of the goal was reached.

qualified triumph

Suggests the success is not absolute and has conditions or limitations.

mixed results

Indicates both positive and negative outcomes, diluting the sense of success.

some progress

Focuses on the advancement made, but implies it is not a complete solution.

moderate gains

Refers to improvements that are neither substantial nor negligible.

spotty record

Implies inconsistent or unreliable achievements.

contained victory

Similar to "qualified triumph", suggesting restrictions on the success.

restricted gains

Highlights that the improvements are limited in scope or amount.

uneven performance

Implies variation in success across different attempts or aspects.

FAQs

How can I use "limited success" in a sentence?

You can use "limited success" to describe situations where efforts have yielded some positive results, but not to the extent desired or expected. For example: "The marketing campaign achieved "limited success" in reaching younger audiences".

What are some alternatives to "limited success"?

Alternatives include "modest achievement", "partial accomplishment", or "mixed results", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "limited success" or "unsuccessful attempt"?

Use "limited success" when there was some positive outcome, even if small. Use "unsuccessful attempt" when there were no positive results at all.

What does "limited success" imply about future efforts?

"Limited success" suggests that while past efforts may not have fully achieved their goals, there is still potential for improvement or further progress with adjustments or renewed strategies.