nominally operational

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nominally operational" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is functioning in name or theory but may not be fully effective or operational in practice. Example: "The system is nominally operational, but we are still experiencing several issues that need to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

When used to process unclassified information, sharing cloud computing resources can nominally provide the operational advantages of a private cloud with a cost closer to that of a public cloud due to the expected economies of scale from combined user communities.

Forbes

The American experts surveyed agreed that, though nominally the chief operational commander of ISIS, al-Baghdadi is in practice reliant on others for strategic and tactical expertise on the battlefield.

HuffPost

Results from dimensional analysis and from the continuous droplet and burst methods, all obtained by measurements replicated across different days with operational variables nominally identical, were compared to test for systematic differences in the determination of droplet mass (Table 2).

Analytical Chemistry

The spacecraft and instruments continue to operate nominally.

University of California, Berkeley

As Clifford Gaddy, an economist who studies Putin's economic strategy, put it, "His vision of the country's entire economy is 'Russia, Inc.,' where he personally works as the executive director" and the owners of nominally private firms are "mere divisional managers, operational managers of the big, real corporation".

The New Yorker

Clapper is only the fourth director of national intelligence, a position nominally atop the 16 intelligence agencies but without significant budgetary or operational authority over them.

The Guardian

The focal plane operating temperature will be 43 K (nominally).

Infrared Physics & Technology

Sure, there are substantive operational differences in both systems, but the gist is that both are nominally command-and-control systems.

Huffington Post

Operational control was maintained by state authorities through the appointment of kolkhoz chairmen (nominally elected) and (until 1958) through political units in the machine-tractor stations (MTSs), which provided heavy equipment to kolkhozy in return for payments in kind of agricultural produce.

Britannica

From a CCF perspective these are particularly useful model features, because CCF events are rare; hence, the operational data available is sparse and is characterised by considerable uncertainty, with databases typically containing events from nominally identical systems from different plants.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

Nominally, there are close links.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nominally operational", ensure the context clarifies the degree to which the system or entity is truly functioning, as it implies a discrepancy between the stated and actual operational status.

Common error

Avoid using "nominally operational" when the system is entirely non-functional. This phrase suggests a minimal level of operation, not a complete absence of it. Use a more direct term like 'non-operational' or 'defunct' if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nominally operational" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing the state of something being operational in name or theory, but not necessarily in full effect. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nominally operational" is used to describe something that functions in name or theory but may not be fully effective in practice. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare. Ludwig AI confirms that it is applicable in variety of contexts, including news, science, academia, and business, to convey a nuanced meaning of limited or superficial functionality. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clarifies the true extent of the system's operation to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Officially functional

Replaces 'nominally' with 'officially', highlighting the formal declaration of functionality.

Formally operational

Similar to 'officially functional', emphasizing the formal aspect of being operational.

Theoretically functional

Shifts the focus to the theoretical possibility of functioning, which might not be the reality.

Functionally nominal

Reverses the order and uses 'nominal' as an adjective describing the functionality.

In name operational

More explicitly states that the operation is only in name or title.

Superficially operational

Suggests that the operational status is only on the surface and may not be effective.

Apparently operational

Implies that it seems to be operational, but the reality might be different.

Putatively operational

Indicates that the system is assumed or believed to be operational, but this may not be confirmed.

Seemingly operational

Similar to 'apparently operational', highlighting the appearance of being operational.

Tokenly operational

Emphasizes that the operation is done as a mere token or symbol.

FAQs

How can I use "nominally operational" in a sentence?

You can use "nominally operational" to describe a system or process that is functioning in name or on paper, but may not be fully effective or reliable in practice. For example, "The project is "nominally operational", but we're still facing several challenges."

What's the difference between "nominally operational" and "fully operational"?

"Nominally operational" suggests that something is only operational in a limited or superficial sense, while "fully operational" indicates that it is functioning completely and effectively. The term "nominally operational" highlights a potential discrepancy between the stated and actual performance.

What are some alternatives to saying "nominally operational"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "officially functional", "theoretically functional", or "in name operational". These phrases convey a similar sense of limited or qualified functionality.

Is it appropriate to use "nominally operational" in formal writing?

Yes, "nominally operational" is appropriate for formal writing. It conveys a nuanced meaning that can be useful in technical or professional contexts where precise language is important. However, ensure that the intended meaning is clear and unambiguous to the reader.