partly able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partly able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that has limited capability or partial ability to perform a task or function. Example: "She is partly able to complete the project on her own, but she may need some assistance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

However, no matter how many explanatory variables one could use, the researcher will be partly able to account for the variability of the time series.

Agricultural and Food Economics

The new Fracture Continuum Voxel Approach (FCVA), is a continuum approach partly able to represent fracture as discrete objects; the geometry of each fracture is represented on a regular meshing associated with a heterogeneous field of equivalent flow properties.

Journal of Hydrology

For example, a dog is partly able to understand aspects of human speech, but makes many mistakes.

Plosone

Due to the sampling strategy and the size of the obese group, we were only partly able to adhere to the WHO obesity categories [13].

Plosone

These muscle parameters, therefore, are partly able to explain the physical performance characteristics of the three species investigated.

Biology Open

By providing different sets of adjustment covariates, we were partly able to test the separate effects of the factors.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

These efforts have only partly been able to manage sustainability since these were focused to address specific needs of different type of organizations; mostly to comply with regulations.

Journal of Cleaner Production

"I feel incredibly content here, which I think has come partly from having no social distractions and partly from being able to take more than three steps in any direction without hitting a piece of furniture.

The New York Times

For example, Nandan Nilekani, the managing director of India's Infosys Technologies, says his software company listed last year on America's Nasdaq exchange partly in order to acquire currency to buy foreign companies, and partly to be able to offer its employees stock options priced in dollars.

The Economist

"This is partly about being able to talk to people.

The Guardian - Business

Yet when she becomes human, she realizes that the power of her feelings came partly from being able to express them.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "partly able to", clearly specify the context or aspect to which the partial ability applies. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "The software is partly able to process the data", specify "The software is partly able to process the data due to a limitation in its current version".

Common error

Avoid using "partly able to" when the ability is negligible or non-existent. If something is only marginally effective, consider using phrases like "barely able to" or "hardly able to" for better accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partly able to" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a limited or incomplete ability. Ludwig AI examples show its usage in various contexts, from describing a researcher's ability to account for variability to explaining the capabilities of a robot.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "partly able to" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a limited or incomplete capacity. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, the phrase is found in both scientific and news contexts, indicating its versatility across different registers, tending toward neutral and formal tones. When using "partly able to", it's beneficial to specify the aspect or reason for the partial ability to ensure clarity. While correct, be mindful of overstating capabilities and consider alternatives when the ability is minimal. Remember to tailor your choice to maintain precision and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially capable of

Replaces "able to" with "capable of", slightly shifting the focus to inherent capacity rather than achieved ability.

somewhat able to

Substitutes "partly" with "somewhat", indicating a slight degree of ability.

only partly capable of

Adds "only" to emphasize the limited nature of the capability.

partially equipped to

Changes "able to" to "equipped to", suggesting the possession of necessary resources or skills, but only to a limited extent.

not entirely able to

Uses a negative construction to convey that the ability is incomplete.

incompletely able to

Replaces "partly" with "incompletely", stressing that the ability is not fully realized.

moderately able to

Uses "moderately" instead of "partly" to indicate a medium level of ability.

limited in ability to

Rephrases to emphasize the restriction or limitation in one's ability.

able to only partially

Inverts the word order for a slightly different emphasis on the partial aspect.

to some extent capable of

Expresses a degree of capability with the phrase "to some extent".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "partly able to" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "partially capable of", "to some extent able to", or "limited in ability to" to convey a similar meaning with increased sophistication.

What's the difference between "partly able to" and "fully able to"?

"Partly able to" indicates a limited capacity or incomplete ability, whereas "fully able to" suggests complete competence and unrestricted capability. The former implies limitations, while the latter implies no restrictions.

Is it always necessary to specify why someone is "partly able to" do something?

While not always mandatory, specifying the reason for the partial ability enhances clarity and provides valuable context. This is especially useful in technical or professional writing where precision is important.

Which is correct, "partly able to" or "partially able to"?

Both "partly able to" and "partially able to" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific context. "Partly" might be perceived as slightly more informal.