partially working

USAGE SUMMARY

"partially working" is correct and usable in written English.
It usually means that something is not functioning properly but still able to do some things. For example, "The printer is only partially working so let's see how many copies we can get before it jams".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Nicholas Schiff was finding that within catastrophically injured brains lay partially working regions, clusters of remnant neural activity.

BBC

These fellows in particular have mated a small plane to a Suzuki to make a sort of pink…Cessnazuki, and there's also a dilapidated but partially working 4-legged walker bot that looks like a bit of a rough ride.

TechCrunch

One working which I blocked by registering the new domain name, and the second which is only partially working because it only spreads and does *not* encrypt files due to a corrupted archive.

TechCrunch

Last week, developer Tom Waddington uncovered Facebook code that points to the creation of a "Want" button — a plugin that potentially points to a new kind of commercial innovation being developed by Facebook itself, different from "want" buttons already being developed by third parties (one example here), and partially working but only within Facebook's Graph API tester.

TechCrunch

When someone comes back from leave, getting them back up to speed, and finding the right structure, whether that's part-time or partially working from home, is key.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That plan partially worked out; some live MP3's are available at gregosby.com.com

The New York Times - Arts

In the 16th century the city developed an important sugar-refining industry, in which partially worked sugarcane was brought in by ship, refined, and reexported.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Common defences are used to protect the self against these adverse comparisons, such as questioning whether looks matter all that much or whether the TV presenter is happy – but they only partially work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Most of what we know about Peirce's final account is gleaned from letters, partially worked out manuscripts and other miscellaneous items.

SEP

The UK government's efforts to halve this rate by 2010 only partially worked; by 2009 the headline figure had dropped to 38 per 1,000 girls, a 19% drop instead of their 50% target.

BBC

The downside to radical life extension is that it might partially work.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "partially working", specify the extent or nature of the limited functionality to provide a clearer understanding. For example, "The software is partially working; it can save files but not open them."

Common error

Avoid using "partially working" when the subject is completely broken. The phrase implies some level of functionality, so ensure that's accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partially working" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is not fully functional. As Ludwig AI suggests, it implies a degree of functionality, even if incomplete.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "partially working" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that functions, but not completely. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and understandable in English. It appears most commonly in news and science contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide details about what aspects are working and what are not to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include phrases such as ""partially functional"" or ""not fully working"". Ensure you don't use "partially working" when the subject is entirely non-functional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially functional

Replaces "working" with "functional", emphasizing the degree of operability.

partly operational

Substitutes "working" with "operational", highlighting its state of readiness.

not fully working

Uses a negative construction to express incomplete functionality.

somewhat working

Replaces "partially" with "somewhat", softening the degree of functionality.

in limited working order

Elaborates on the phrase, specifying the restricted condition of operability.

semi-functional

Uses a prefix to indicate incomplete functionality in a more concise way.

imperfectly working

Replaces "partially" with "imperfectly", emphasizing the flawed functionality.

partially in operation

Focuses on the state of being in operation rather than just "working".

with limited functionality

Shifts the focus to the limitation of functionality instead of the working status.

working to a limited extent

Specifies that the working condition is bounded by certain limits.

FAQs

How can I use "partially working" in a sentence?

You can use "partially working" to describe something that is not fully functional, for example, "The printer is "partially working"; it prints but the colors are faded".

What are some alternatives to "partially working"?

Alternatives include "partially functional", "not fully working", or "somewhat working", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "partially working" or "not working"?

Use "partially working" when something has some functionality. If it's completely broken, use "not working".

What does "partially working" imply about the functionality of something?

It implies that some aspects of it are functional while others are not, meaning it is not operating at its full potential or intended capacity.