technical incompetence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "technical incompetence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lack of skill or ability in a technical field or subject. Example: "The project's failure was largely due to the team's technical incompetence in handling the software."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

But our technical incompetence makes this an unlikely scenario.

The Guardian - Opinion

The idea of the movie was obscured by technical incompetence.

The New Yorker

The largest Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, recently went broke with rumors swirling about technical incompetence and fraud.

Princeton University

Since Bitcoin's largest exchange went bankrupt, rumors have been swirling about technical incompetence and fraud within the organization.

Princeton University

Satellite broadcaster Sky was a terrible brand when it first launched, combining technical incompetence and blue-collar broadcasting.

The Guardian - Business

I readily seeked criticism from TAs or Prof. Bruce for any technical incompetence and worked over it to rectify error and mistakes.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

My total incompetence Technical issues are to blame.

The Guardian - Sport

Unquestionably, the White House handed them this gift through two kinds of incompetence: the technical failure of the health-exchange website, and the political failure of the president in falsely promising that no one would lose an insurance policy they already had.

The New York Times

Deterioration and degeneration of the structures of the houses have increased because of the lack of proper control mechanism and incompetence of the technical staffs, working in this field.

Journal of Cultural Heritage

For about the first seven years of my professional career, the BBC refused to trust the Attractions or any other groups to play their instruments on most of their pop shows, citing "technical problems" to excuse their incompetence.

The Guardian - Music

The success of a project should not hang on the input of the TA; nor should projects fail, as frequently happens, because of the lack of, or quite frequently the incompetence or disinterest of technical advisors.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "technical incompetence", be specific about the area of technical skill that is lacking. This adds clarity and avoids generalizations.

Common error

While "technical incompetence" is a valid phrase, using it broadly without specific examples can come across as overly critical and unprofessional. Focus on specific instances or areas needing improvement rather than using it as a blanket statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "technical incompetence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "technical" modifies the noun "incompetence". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples show it being used to describe a lack of skill or ability in a specific technical area.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

28%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "technical incompetence" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe a lack of skill or ability in a technical field. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts, often serving to criticize or explain failures. While appropriate in professional settings, it's essential to use the phrase with specificity to avoid being overly critical. Alternatives like "lack of technical proficiency" or "limited technical skills" may be more suitable in very formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of technical proficiency

This alternative directly replaces "incompetence" with a more formal expression of lacking skill.

deficiency in technical expertise

This emphasizes the absence of required knowledge and skill in a specific technical area.

technical ineptitude

This alternative replaces incompetence with a more informal but equally negative term, "ineptitude".

poor technical ability

This focuses on the substandard level of skill in technical tasks.

inadequate technical skills

This highlights that the necessary skills are not sufficient for the task.

failure to meet technical standards

This phrase shifts the focus to the failure to achieve a required level of technical performance.

technical incapability

This describes a lack of capacity to perform technical tasks effectively.

limited technical understanding

This underlines a superficial or incomplete grasp of technical concepts.

substandard technical performance

This specifies that the quality of technical execution is below expectations.

technical deficiency

This is a concise way to point out a lack of something essential in a technical context.

FAQs

How can I use "technical incompetence" in a sentence?

You can use "technical incompetence" to describe a lack of skill or ability in a technical field. For instance, "The project failed due to the team's "technical incompetence"".

What are some alternatives to "technical incompetence"?

Alternatives include "lack of technical proficiency", "deficiency in technical expertise", or "technical ineptitude", depending on the desired level of formality and specificity.

Is it appropriate to use "technical incompetence" in a formal setting?

While grammatically correct, "technical incompetence" can sound harsh in very formal contexts. Consider using a more neutral term like "limited technical skills" or "lack of technical expertise".

What's the difference between "technical incompetence" and "technical inadequacy"?

"Technical incompetence" suggests a general lack of ability, while "technical inadequacy" implies that the skills are insufficient for a particular task or situation. "Technical inadequacy" might be a milder way to express a similar idea.