significant capacity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant capacity" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when describing someone's ability or potential to do something, or the size or extent of something. Example: "The new technology has the significant capacity to revolutionize the way we do business."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The four provinces need to develop significant capacity to take on additional powers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Use what's there: There is significant capacity in Africa that's not well used.

The Guardian

It also provides us with a significant capacity to manage the continuing uncertain regulatory environment," said Gulliver.

The Guardian - Business

"All the airplanes in the desert indicate the significant capacity restraint that carriers have undertaken".

The New York Times

Lithium ion batteries, however, should usually last a few years before they lose significant capacity, although under some usage patterns may deteriorate much more quickly.

The Guardian - Tech

And for at least the next two years, the soonest any significant capacity can be added, there is no easy solution.

The New York Times

"One of the blessings in the current environment is that we have significant capacity to expand and sell Treasury debt," he told me recently.

The New York Times - Magazine

Decades of neoliberal "adjustment" and neo-imperial intervention have robbed its government of any significant capacity to invest in its people or to regulate its economy.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We have significant capacity over and above what is reflected here, either by working with banks or by going to the public markets," Edward I. Adler, an AOL Time Warner spokesman, said yesterday in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

The reserve bank seems to have concluded that for Australia, which is already experiencing significant capacity constraints in terms of labor and infrastructure, the net effect is still likely to be inflationary.

The New York Times

"It's important that our constituencies appreciate that we have a significant capacity to hold these loans to maturity, and we have $13 billion of excess capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant capacity", ensure the context clearly defines what type of capacity is being referenced (e.g., storage, processing, production) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "significant capacity" as a vague descriptor. Instead of saying something has "significant capacity", specify what that capacity entails. For example, instead of stating "the battery has significant capacity", specify "the battery has significant capacity for energy storage, allowing for extended use".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant capacity" typically functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "capacity". It describes the extent or amount of something, often implying a considerable or noteworthy quantity or capability. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, affirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant capacity" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that denotes a notable amount or ability, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is prevalent across diverse fields like science, news, and business. While broadly applicable, specify the type of capacity to prevent vagueness in technical writing. Alternatives such as "considerable potential" or "substantial capability" offer nuanced replacements. Therefore, using this phrase effectively involves clarity, context-awareness, and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable capability

Replaces "capacity" with "capability" and "significant" with "considerable", emphasizing the ability to perform.

substantial potential

Focuses on future possibilities rather than current abilities by replacing "capacity" with "potential".

notable aptitude

Highlights a natural talent or skill, making it suitable for describing individual abilities rather than system capabilities.

meaningful aptitude

Highlights an important and noticeable talent.

remarkable power

Emphasizes strength or influence rather than volume or skill.

appreciable power

Highlights the magnitude of influence.

considerable headroom

Highlights available space or margin.

substantial leeway

Focuses on the degree of freedom to act.

sizeable room

Focuses on physical space rather than abstract capabilities.

large volume

Emphasizes quantity rather than ability.

FAQs

How can I use "significant capacity" in a sentence?

You can use "significant capacity" to describe a large amount of something or a strong ability. For instance, "The company has a "significant capacity" to increase production" or "The reservoir has "significant capacity" for water storage".

What are some alternatives to "significant capacity"?

Alternatives include "considerable potential", "substantial capability", or "notable aptitude" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "significant capacity" or "large capacity"?

"Significant capacity" implies a more important or impactful level of capacity, whereas "large capacity" simply refers to size. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize importance or just size.

What's the difference between "significant capacity" and "considerable capacity"?

"Significant capacity" and "considerable capacity" are largely interchangeable. Both suggest a substantial amount or ability. However, "significant capacity" might imply more importance, while "considerable capacity" simply highlights the amount.