modest capabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest capabilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's or something's limited or average skills or abilities in a particular area. Example: "While the software has modest capabilities, it is sufficient for basic tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For some reason, the comment he made on 6 January, 2009, at a meeting of state chief ministers, when he described the Maoists as having only "modest capabilities", doesn't seem to have had the same raw appeal.

The Guardian - Opinion

The film's pleasures, then, which are many, have mostly to do with musical excellence wholly out of whack with the film's modest capabilities.

Vice

In fact, the published experience with epratuzumab in lymphoma, in which cell killing is presumably necessary for efficacy, suggests that this agent has only very modest capabilities when used alone and unaltered.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

For example, IBM's 1964-model Selectric typewriter with a magnetic tape drive predated bit-mapped graphics and had only modest formatting capabilities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The New Jersey Repertory Company valiantly strains its modest stage capabilities to present the world premiere of "American Stare," a new play by Tony Glazer that demands six actors and a realistic setting for a contemporary story that takes place in a trailer park in South Florida.

The New York Times

Pervasive/Ubiquitous Computing: is a technological paradigm centred on the dispersion of a variety of devices with, sometimes modest, computing capabilities.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Due to modest processing capabilities and very limited energy resources of the nodes, the distributed localisation however becomes unaffordable and impracticable for the WTSN.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In a year of near-record-low ice, the Vladimir Tikhonov's more modest icebreaking capability saw it most of the way through the Northern Sea Route with little help.

The Economist

The Soft X-ray Spectrometer onboard the Astro-H is a 6 × 6 X-ray microcalorimeter array and provides us with both a high energy resolution of <7 eV at 0.5 10 keV and a 3′ × 3′ modest imaging capability for the first time.

Cryogenics

The protection relaying in such grids is not trivial: it must be very reliable, robust to the converter control system׳s effect on the post fault transients and act quickly, before the fault current develops beyond the presently modest interrupt capability of DC breakers.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

This research combines modest IR imaging capabilities with the exceptional topographical imaging of conventional AFM to provide advantages of both in a facile manner.

Ultramicroscopy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the limitations of a system or organization, use "modest capabilities" to accurately portray their constraints without sounding overly critical.

Common error

Avoid using "modest capabilities" when you intend to convey a complete lack of ability. This phrase suggests some degree of competence, albeit limited.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest capabilities" functions as a descriptive term, typically used to characterize the limited or average abilities of a person, system, or organization. Ludwig AI examples showcase its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "modest capabilities" is used to describe the limited or average skills and abilities of something or someone. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal contexts, like news and scientific writing, to objectively assess performance limitations. While alternatives such as "limited skills" or "average abilities" exist, "modest capabilities" presents a neutral portrayal for professional communication. Using this phrase effectively involves recognizing its implication of some, but not extensive, competence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited skills

Focuses on the constraint or restriction of abilities.

average abilities

Highlights that the skills are typical and not exceptional.

basic competence

Emphasizes the fundamental level of proficiency.

restricted skillset

Points to a limited range of skills available.

humble skills

Implies simplicity and lack of pretension in abilities.

limited capacity

Highlights the constraint in potential or ability to perform.

moderate competence

Suggests a satisfactory but not outstanding skill level.

ordinary skill

Indicates that the ability is commonplace and unremarkable.

simple aptitude

Emphasizes the straightforward and unsophisticated nature of the skill.

unsophisticated abilities

Indicates abilities that are not complex or advanced.

FAQs

How can I use "modest capabilities" in a sentence?

You can use "modest capabilities" to describe limitations in skill or resources. For example, "Despite its "modest capabilities", the software is useful for basic tasks."

What are some alternatives to "modest capabilities"?

Alternatives include "limited skills", "average abilities", or "basic competence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "modest capabilities" in formal writing?

Yes, "modest capabilities" is appropriate in formal writing as it's a neutral and professional way to describe limitations without being overly negative.

What's the difference between "modest capabilities" and "minimal capabilities"?

"Modest capabilities" implies some level of skill or resources, while "minimal capabilities" suggests a very low or near-zero level of ability. The choice depends on the degree of limitation you wish to emphasize.