undermine your ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'undermine your ability' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that something decreases your ability to do something. For example: "The heavy workload was beginning to undermine his ability to make quality presentations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

However, there's an important factor that could undermine your ability to be fair: sleep.

Harvard Business Review

To do so could muddy the doctor-patient relationship and undermine your ability to act as a witness for the patient should a legal proceeding occur.

The New York Times - Magazine

When someone who lives among you turns himself into an enemy mouthpiece, while spreading lies, out of the hope that this will undermine your ability to wage war – this is called, in simple Hebrew, 'treason'".

Independent

Acting like someone you are not is tiring, which can undermine your ability to perform.

Forbes

This will undermine your ability to sell yourself and prove that you are the very best candidate for the job.

Forbes

Ultimately, this can erode or undermine your ability to get ahead, make a difference and increase your chances for promotion.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Pessimism can actually undermine your abilities.

WikiHow

But self-doubt completely undermines your ability to project confidence, enthusiasm, and passion, the qualities that make up presence.

Harvard Business Review

"The other thing is, you've undermined your ability to get something useful out of it anyway if you've lost your virginity, so to speak, by appearing to cave in to domestic protectionist pressures".

The New York Times

** But some sanitary reformers, Florence Nightingale among them, opposed contagionism precisely because they believed that the poor were personally responsible for their filth: contagionism undermined your ability to hold people to account for their unwholesome way of life.

The New Yorker

The dean of the university sent him a letter warning that his pledge not to use certain pronouns revealed "discriminatory intentions"; the letter also warned, "The impact of your behavior runs the risk of undermining your ability to conduct essential components of your job as a faculty member".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermine your ability", ensure that the subject causing the undermining is clearly identified to maintain clarity and impact in your writing. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the overall message.

Common error

Avoid using "undermine your ability" without clearly specifying what is causing the reduction in capability. Vague statements can weaken your argument and confuse readers. Make sure to explicitly state the factor that is undermining the ability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine your ability" functions as a verb phrase used to express the act of weakening or diminishing someone's capacity or skill. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Examples show its deployment across various contexts to describe how something negatively affects one's capabilities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

13%

Huffington Post

13%

Less common in

Harvard Business Review

4%

Vice

4%

The New York Times

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "undermine your ability" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe the act of weakening or diminishing someone's capacity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts. It's most frequently found in news and media, wiki articles, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the undermining factor. Alternatives include "weaken your capacity" or "diminish your capability", which offer similar meanings with slight variations. Pay attention to these subtle changes when considering an alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weaken your capacity

Focuses on reducing the overall capacity rather than directly targeting ability.

diminish your capability

Emphasizes a reduction in one's inherent power or talent.

impair your competence

Highlights a negative impact on one's professional skill set.

hinder your potential

Stresses the obstruction of future achievements or development.

compromise your skill

Suggests a lowering of standards or effectiveness in a specific skill.

erode your talent

Implies a gradual wearing away of one's natural aptitude.

sap your strength

Highlights the draining of energy necessary to maintain one's ability.

cripple your effectiveness

Indicates a severe hampering of one's operational capabilities.

hamper your aptitude

Suggests hindering one’s natural tendency to do something well.

reduce your proficiency

Focuses on lowering the level of expertise or skill in a particular area.

FAQs

How can I use "undermine your ability" in a sentence?

You can use "undermine your ability" to describe something that weakens or reduces someone's capacity to do something. For example, "Lack of sleep can "undermine your ability" to concentrate."

What are some alternatives to "undermine your ability"?

Some alternatives include "weaken your capacity", "diminish your capability", or "impair your competence". These phrases offer similar meanings but may have slightly different connotations depending on the context.

Which is correct, "undermine your ability" or "undermine your abilities"?

"Undermine your ability" refers to a general capacity, while "undermine your abilities" suggests affecting multiple specific skills or talents. The choice depends on whether you're referring to a singular, overarching capability or multiple distinct ones.

How does stress "undermine your ability" to perform?

Stress can "undermine your ability" to perform by impairing cognitive functions, reducing focus, and increasing anxiety, all of which negatively impact one's capacity to execute tasks effectively.