limited visibility

USAGE SUMMARY

'limited visibility' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that can be seen only to a limited extent, such as during a heavy fog or rain. For example, "Due to the limited visibility caused by the fog, I had to reduce my speed while driving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Low candles on the tables offer limited visibility.

The New York Times - Food

The crew said there was limited visibility according to the Australian Maritime and Safety Authority.

The Guardian

"In his style, limited visibility isn't a reason not to make a decision," Mr. McCarthy said.

The New York Times

Because of the steep rear slant, there is limited visibility through the back window.

The New York Times

"We have limited visibility, as all companies have in this environment," said Thomas J. Szkutak, Amazon's chief financial officer.

The New York Times - Tech

Horner withstood Nibali's challenges on the ascent; the narrow mountain road crowded on both sides by raucous fans; and thick fog, which limited visibility.

The New York Times - Sports

In reality robots may have limited visibility of other robots and see only their approximate positions.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

The Facebook activity of users aged between 13 and 17 would have limited visibility in the network's new "social graph" search facility, the firm said.

BBC

Though Stories is a growing product, Our Stories have limited visibility because they are so targeted around a certain date, location, and group of people.

TechCrunch

However, current EMIS data provide limited visibility regarding KG enrollment among disadvantaged groups, such as OVC, as enrollment data are not sufficiently disaggregated.

Unicef

Mirrors pose their own drawbacks: they tend to have limited visibility and distribution within the research community and incur a local maintenance overhead.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing weather conditions, use "limited visibility" to clearly communicate the impact on travel and outdoor activities. For example, "The heavy fog caused "limited visibility", making driving conditions hazardous".

Common error

While "low visibility" is a valid alternative, "limited visibility" is often preferred in formal writing. Ensure you choose the term that best suits the tone and context of your writing. For instance, in a scientific report, "limited visibility" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "limited visibility" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies a noun, providing information about the extent to which something can be seen. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "limited visibility" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe situations where the ability to see is reduced. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans various contexts, from describing weather conditions to explaining challenges in business and scientific research. While alternatives like "low visibility" and "poor visibility" exist, "limited visibility" is often favored in more formal contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of the specific situation you are describing and ensure that the term accurately reflects the extent of visual restriction. Given its frequency and clarity, "limited visibility" remains a reliable and effective choice for expressing reduced visual range.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor visibility

Replaces "limited" with "poor", indicating a lower quality of visibility.

reduced visibility

Substitutes "limited" with "reduced", emphasizing the decreased extent of visibility.

low visibility

Uses "low" instead of "limited", conveying a similar meaning of diminished visual range.

impaired visibility

Employs "impaired", suggesting that something is hindering the ability to see clearly.

obscured view

Shifts from visibility to view, implying that something is blocking the sight.

lack of clarity

Focuses on the clarity aspect, indicating a difficulty in seeing distinctly.

partial obscuration

Highlights the partial blockage of view, indicating some but not complete obstruction.

restricted view

Uses "restricted" instead of "limited", signifying a constrained visual access.

uncertain outlook

Extends the concept to a metaphorical lack of clarity, relating to future prospects or understanding.

blurry vision

Describes the personal experience of not seeing clearly, often due to a medical condition.

FAQs

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

You can use "limited visibility" to describe situations where the ability to see is reduced. For example, "The search and rescue operation was hampered by "limited visibility" due to the dense forest canopy".

What are some alternatives to "limited visibility"?

You can use alternatives like "poor visibility", "reduced visibility", or "low visibility" depending on the context.

Which is more appropriate, "limited visibility" or "lowered visibility"?

"Limited visibility" is generally preferred over "lowered visibility". While both are understandable, "limited visibility" is more common and idiomatic. However, if you want to emphasize the act of reducing the visibility, you might say something like "The pilot lowered the landing gear, expecting lowered visibility near the runway".

What does "impaired visibility" mean and how does it differ from "limited visibility"?

"Impaired visibility" suggests that something is actively hindering or damaging the ability to see, whereas "limited visibility" simply indicates a reduced capacity to see, without necessarily implying a specific cause or impairment.