somewhat able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a limited capacity or capability to do something. Example: "She is somewhat able to manage her time effectively, but she still struggles with procrastination."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In addition, clinicians are somewhat able to predict if a canine is palatally impacted by visually observing the crown-to-root angulation of the adjacent lateral incisor.

Progress in Orthodontics

There's never a convenient time for somebody you care about to die, but you hope to be somewhat able to cope with it when it finally does happen.

Vice

The data suggest that EtOH treatment is sufficient to completely disrupt planarian photophobic responses to light, although they are still somewhat able to respond to mechanical stimulation.

Plosone

At seventy-three years, I was somewhat able to fathom the growth of plants and trees; and the structure of birds, animals, insects and fish.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Yet it is reasonable to conclude that high heat will claim thousands of lives in India this summer.As Indians grow richer its people should become somewhat better able to protect themselves from the heat.

The Economist

Perilous Times equips Americans to integrate the judgments of the court of history, thereby rendering our national community somewhat better able to resist the repressive urge.

Duke University

When female collared flycatchers paired with male pied flycatchers, their offspring were somewhat less able to reproduce than the descendents of same-species pairs, the group found.

Science Magazine

GPs felt somewhat more able to actually carry out a HbP-carrier test compared with midwives.

European Journal of Human Genetics

The fourth and final party to enter the Hungarian parliament is called Politics Can Be Different (LMP), which lost slightly compared to 2010 -2.22 percent), but somewhat surprisingly was able to clear the 5-percent hurdle again, despite the split of E-14.

The Washington Post

That said, the event has turned so extreme that even we are somewhat stunned, hardly able to believe our own dire predictions are actually playing out.

The Washington Post

In a sign that market tension about the euro zone has eased somewhat, Spain and France were able to sell bonds at reduced interest rates Thursday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat able to" when you want to indicate a limited or partial capacity to perform an action. This softens the claim and avoids overstating ability.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat able to" when the context requires a stronger affirmation of ability. If someone is fully capable, a more definitive phrase is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat able to" functions as an adjectival modifier indicating a limited degree of capability or competence. As Ludwig AI explains, it expresses a partial ability to perform an action, not a complete one.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat able to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a limited degree of capability or competence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and expresses a partial ability to perform an action. Analysis of example sentences on Ludwig indicates that it is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. Alternative phrases include "partially capable of" and "moderately competent to". When writing, use "somewhat able to" to convey a nuanced assessment of ability that falls short of full competence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

able to some extent

Directly indicates a limited capacity or degree of ability.

partially capable of

Emphasizes the limited degree of capability.

able in a limited way

Emphasizes restriction or constraint on ability.

moderately competent to

Highlights a fair level of skill or proficiency.

somewhat competent to

Highlights a fair level of skill or proficiency.

relatively equipped to

Focuses on having some, but not complete, resources or preparation.

reasonably suited to

Implies a decent fit or appropriateness for a task.

partially in a position to

Highlights the partial availability of means or opportunity.

adequately enabled to

Stresses the provision of sufficient means, but not necessarily optimal.

passably qualified to

Indicates just enough qualifications to perform a task.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat able to" in a sentence?

Use "somewhat able to" to indicate a limited capacity or capability. For instance, "She is "somewhat able to" manage her time effectively, but she still struggles with procrastination."

What's a formal alternative to "somewhat able to"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "partially capable of" or "moderately competent to" instead of ""somewhat able to"".

Is it better to say "somewhat able to" or "partially able to"?

Both ""somewhat able to"" and "partially able to" are grammatically correct, but ""somewhat able to"" is slightly more common in general usage.

When should I avoid using "somewhat able to"?

Avoid using ""somewhat able to"" if the individual or object is fully competent or if the context demands a stronger statement of ability. In such cases, opt for phrases that convey complete capability.