Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

no capability

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no capability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a lack of ability or resources to perform a specific task or function. Example: "The system currently has no capability to process large data sets efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In many cases, even the best-estimate environment does not meet the impact tolerance goals without dropping from 3-sigma to 2-sigma or below, and in some cases show "no capability" of surviving impact.

News & Media

The New York Times

The ICECAP-O tariffs have values between 0 (no capability) and 1 (full capability).

The aim of the present work was to evaluate NO capability to cope with plastic genome of E. coli.

The scoring algorithm can be readily applied to obtain a single index value for all possible combinations of responses ranging from 0 (no capability) to 1 (full capability).

Individuals' response profiles can then be 'scored' between 0 (no capability) and 1 (full capability) using (UK) index values estimated previously (Flynn et al., 2013).

The reason modern robots do not fire the imagination is that, at the moment, they are only capable of following instructions: they have no capability to "think" for themselves.

News & Media

The Guardian

Secondly, nuclear weapons have no capability today.

"We have no capability to fight a conventional war against the United States," General Zhu said.

News & Media

The New York Times

The Eurofighter, its replacement, has no capability for carrying such weapons.

News & Media

The New York Times

How can we defend our country with no capability of making our own steel?

News & Media

The Guardian

There is no capability whatsoever in forecasting the orientation of an incoming CME's magnetic field.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a system's limitations, be specific about the type of "capability" that is lacking (e.g. "no capability for real-time analysis" rather than simply "no capability").

Common error

Avoid using "no capability" as a blanket statement without providing specific context. Always clarify what specific function or action the subject is incapable of performing to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no capability" functions as a noun phrase indicating the absence of a specific ability or resource. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is often followed by "to + verb" specifying what cannot be done. Examples from Ludwig show its application in diverse contexts, from technical limitations to military strategy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "no capability" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the absence of ability or resources. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English and provides context. Its prevalence spans scientific, news, and business domains, suggesting a versatile application. While "no capability" is generally correct and widely understood, it's important to provide specific context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "lack of ability" or "inability" can offer nuanced expressions of the same concept.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "no capability" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "lack of capacity", "inability", or "absence of competence". For example, instead of saying "The device has no capability to perform this function", you could say "The device lacks the capacity to perform this function".

What are some common situations where I might use the phrase "no capability"?

The phrase "no capability" is often used to describe limitations in technology, military resources, organizational structure, or personal skills. You might say, "The software has "no capability" to process images" or "The army has "no capability" for a large-scale invasion".

Is it grammatically correct to say "no capabilities" instead of "no capability"?

While both are technically correct, "no capability" is more common when referring to a general lack of ability. "No capabilities" might be used when referring to multiple, specific functionalities. For example, "The system has "no capability" for data encryption" versus "The system has "no capabilities" in terms of data processing or network security".

Are there any synonyms for "no capability" that imply a stronger sense of impossibility?

If you want to emphasize a complete absence of ability, you could use phrases like "utterly incapable", "entirely without the means", or "devoid of any competence". For example, "The project is "utterly incapable" of achieving its objectives".

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: