make limited sense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make limited sense" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used mainly to express the idea that something does not make complete, logical sense or is hard to comprehend. For example: "His explanation of the concept only made limited sense to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Furthermore, SNPs with limited amount of genetic variation in the population were deselected, as they will make limited sense using a network approach.

BMC Systems Biology

It might make limited sense for employed or otherwise insured Americans, but it would certainly not be available for anybody else.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As anyone who has ever flown knows, the longstanding policy of boarding passengers starting at the rear of the plane makes limited sense.

The New York Times

This is a shame, not just because Iraqis need a chance to rest and confront their history, but also because the violence that erupted after 2003 made limited sense to those who did not live through its prelude.

The New York Times - Books

This plan makes limited sense if one holds to the narrative of a debt crisis and an unemployment problem.

Huffington Post

"Buying British" may be patriotic, but makes limited ecological sense.

The Guardian

The assumption of mutually exclusive categories makes limited clinical sense, most cases having several contributing causes, but Codac categories are distinctive – with one significant exception: Infections are coded in two separate positions comparable to ICD: First by infectious agents (codes 0xx), and second by site of infection (codes 19x, 49x, 59x, 69x, 79x) (rule 7, table 2).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

In "Zwingli's Sausages," he points out that biblical restrictions against eating shellfish, pork and various other "unclean" animals turn out to make some limited sense — at least in their ancient contexts — now that we understand more about them.

The Washington Post

There seems to be no chance to increase production at this late date to provide enough flu vaccine for everyone From a personal standpoint, it makes only limited sense to get a flu shot in the belief that it will help you decide whether some fever that later hits you is due to anthrax or a more common germ.

The New York Times

Consequently, comparing SUV values across investigations makes only limited sense and is prone to potentially serious errors if the objective is to assess changes of glucose metabolism.

EJNMMI Research

The game makes limited use of the Wiimote's motion-sensing abilities and can be played one-handed.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make limited sense", ensure the context clarifies what aspects are understandable and what remains unclear. For example, "The initial proposal made limited sense until the revised budget was presented."

Common error

Avoid using "make limited sense" when something is completely nonsensical. In such cases, phrases like "make no sense" or "be incomprehensible" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make limited sense" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that something is only partially understandable or logical. This is supported by Ludwig AI which states that the phrase is used to express the idea that something does not make complete, logical sense or is hard to comprehend.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make limited sense" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered expression used to indicate that something is only partially comprehensible or logical. Ludwig AI confirms that it's used when something doesn't make complete sense. While not exceedingly common, it's found in various contexts like news, science, and general-interest writing. Related phrases include "be somewhat comprehensible" and "have limited coherence". When using this phrase, ensure that the context makes clear what is understood and what remains unclear. It is important to be mindful that it's not interchangeable with "make no sense" which indicates a total lack of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely make sense

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding, similar to "limited sense".

be somewhat comprehensible

Expresses a partial understanding, similar to making "limited sense".

have limited coherence

Focuses on the lack of logical consistency, mirroring the idea of "limited sense".

barely be intelligible

Highlights the marginal clarity, similar to making "limited sense".

be partially understandable

Highlights the incomplete nature of understanding, akin to making "limited sense".

offer a partial explanation

Suggests that something provides some, but not a complete, understanding.

be only marginally logical

Emphasizes the weak logical connection, similar to "limited sense".

lack full intelligibility

Focuses on the absence of complete clarity, resembling "limited sense".

only partially compute

Indicates that something is only partially processing or understandable.

be faintly rational

Indicates a slight or weak sense of reason, related to making "limited sense".

FAQs

How can I use "make limited sense" in a sentence?

You can use "make limited sense" to express that something is partially understandable but not entirely clear. For instance, "The instructions "make limited sense" without prior experience."

What's a good alternative to "make limited sense"?

Alternatives include "be somewhat comprehensible", "have limited coherence", or "be partially understandable". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "make limited sense"?

Yes, "make limited sense" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate partial understanding or coherence.

What's the difference between "make limited sense" and "make no sense"?

"Make limited sense" suggests partial understanding, while "make no sense" indicates complete incomprehensibility. Use "make limited sense" when some aspects are understandable, but the overall meaning is not fully clear.