residual capability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "residual capability" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the remaining capability or ability of something after it has been reduced or altered in some way. For example, "After the hurricane destroyed the village's infrastructure, there was only a residual capability to provide essential services."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The Pentagon's missile-defense organization has also acknowledged that the new American defense would have the "residual capability" to defend against the "unauthorized launch by an established nuclear power of a few missiles with simple countermeasures," a definition that includes the Chinese.

The New York Times

Whilst structural design allows for redundancy, or a structural capability beyond the general working load of the structure, it is necessary to be able to analyse and understand the residual capability of a damaged structure to ensure the safety of personnel in the vicinity of the structure and assess the potential to facilitate repair.

Engineering Structures

These have a residual capability to bind ThT, which is thought to intercalate into hydrophobic ridges along the fibrils [17].

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Human colorectal carcinomas are heterogeneous and contain differentiated cells (Ho et al, 1989), suggesting that cancer stem cells, with a residual capability for multilineage differentiation, propagate colorectal cancer.

British Journal of Cancer

The number of corresponding late passages (P30 and P33) was chosen by their growth performance as we wanted to analyze the cells close to senescent state but required residual capability for large-scale expansion.

Clinical Epigenetics

In this article we use a computational model and clinical data to identify the role of HAART timing on the residual capability to control HIV rebound after treatment suspension.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

If the reliability of these effects is, however, sufficient for sensitive detection of residual capabilities in DOC patients has to be assessed in future studies.

Brain Research

For a potential application in DOC, the understanding of whether and to what extent patients are able to process vocal information would help to better comprehend their residual capabilities.

Brain Research

What might a residual deterrence capability against cheats look like?

The Economist

Results: A significant difference between the residual movement capability and the spontaneous use was found in both tests.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The tasks to be tested were defined with the purpose of assessing the residual functional capability of the patient at the shoulder and elbow levels.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "residual capability", clarify what the capability is residual to. This provides context and prevents ambiguity. For example, "the residual capability of the engine after the repair" is clearer than just "residual capability".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the importance of a "residual capability". If a capability is truly minimal, it may be more accurate to describe it as negligible or non-existent to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "residual capability" functions as a noun phrase, where "residual" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "capability". It describes a remaining or leftover capacity to perform a specific function or task, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "residual capability" refers to the remaining ability or capacity of something after it has been diminished or altered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While not overly common, its frequency is classified as uncommon, with the majority of usage occurring in scientific and news-related contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context by specifying what the capability is residual to, and to avoid overstating its significance. Alternatives such as "remaining capacity" or "remaining ability" may be more appropriate depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey. In essence, "residual capability" is a precise term for describing remaining functionality, best employed in contexts requiring technical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining capacity

Focuses on the amount of something that's left, emphasizing quantity more than ability.

remaining ability

Highlights the surviving skill or competence after reduction or damage.

lasting capacity

Emphasizes the endurance or persistence of the ability over time.

leftover ability

Indicates that the ability is a remnant, perhaps not fully functional.

enduring capability

Stresses the strength and resilience of the remaining capacity.

persistent capability

Highlights the continuous and unwavering nature of the capability.

existing potential

Shifts the focus to untapped possibilities that still exist.

dwindling ability

Highlights that the ability is decreasing but not completely gone.

reduced functionality

Focuses more on a decrease in how well something works, not necessarily its complete absence.

limited functionality

Emphasizes restrictions or constraints on the capability.

FAQs

How can I use "residual capability" in a sentence?

You can use "residual capability" to describe the remaining ability of something after damage, modification, or partial depletion. For example: "Despite the power outage, the generator retained a "residual capability" to power essential equipment".

What are some alternatives to using "residual capability"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "remaining capacity", "remaining ability", or "lasting capacity".

Is "residual capability" the same as "residual capacity"?

While similar, "residual capability" generally refers to a remaining ability or function, whereas "residual capacity" often refers to a remaining quantity or amount.

In what contexts is "residual capability" commonly used?

"Residual capability" is often used in scientific and technical contexts to describe the remaining functionality of systems or components after some form of degradation or alteration. It can also be used in news and media when referring to the capabilities of organizations or governments.