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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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unless you're able

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Having a vision and having confidence doesn't mean anything unless you're able to communicate it to your team, investors and customers.

News & Media

The New York Times

Volunteering is often the only way to get the required experience for a fully-paid job, unless, you're able to pay them for the privilege.

News & Media

The Guardian

Unless you're able to secure funds from, say, a wealth bank who are interested in managing her investment post-divorce, there is no real market for that lady to acquire funding".

News & Media

The Guardian

So unless you're able to perform your ablutions or fill your cup at an Usain Bolt-rivalling speed, you could be leaving yourself open to unscrupulous password thieves every time you step away from the computer.

And if you're in a coma, you would agree, unless you're able to have really good dreams like you're in heaven and inventing your own universe like that movie with Robin Williams that was rubbish.

Unless you're able to calculate the value of each of those, you are missing out on critical data.

News & Media

Forbes
Show more...

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Rent a projector online (unless you are able to borrow from a friend! ) Review the setup instructions and familiarize yourself with setup.

And that does become impossible unless you are able to recycle and reuse everything you can.

News & Media

The Guardian

Never criticise a previous employer or refer to difficulties or disappointments unless you were able to turn them around.

News & Media

The Guardian

"Unless you are able to control the actual acquisition of weapon-usable material, you are not able to control proliferation," he said in recent interview.

News & Media

The New York Times

Unless you are able to wait weeks for an appointment, you'll see whoever's going, and very often a locum.

News & Media

The Guardian
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the clause following the phrase is a positive statement; the negative condition is already built into the word 'unless'.

Common error

Do not follow "unless you're able" with a negative verb or adjective like 'unless you're not able'. Since 'unless' means 'if... not', adding another negative creates a double negative that reverses your intended meaning and confuses the reader. If you need a negative construction, use "if you are not able" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unless you're able" functions as a subordinating conjunction phrase that introduces a conditional clause of exception. It combines the conjunction 'unless' with the contracted subject-verb pair 'you are' and the adjective 'able'. In many Ludwig examples, it acts as a gatekeeper phrase, establishing the specific condition under which a preceding statement is invalidated or altered.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

36%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig data, "unless you're able" is a highly effective and common phrase used to introduce necessary conditions in English. It appears frequently in reputable publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, as well as practical instructional sites like WikiHow. Its primary strength lies in its ability to clearly define an exception or a requirement for success in a concise manner. While it is perfectly acceptable for most writing tasks, authors should remember to drop the contraction in formal academic or legal contexts to maintain a high level of professionalism. Overall, it is a versatile tool for defining limits and possibilities.

FAQs

How do I use "unless you're able" in a sentence?

You can use it to set a condition for success, for example: "You cannot pass the exam "unless you're able" to manage your time effectively."

Is it better to use "unless you're able" or "if you're not able"?

Both are correct, but "unless you're able" is often more concise. Use "if you're not able" if you want to place more emphasis on the state of being unable.

Is "unless you're able" formal enough for an essay?

While grammatically sound, for formal academic essays, it is better to avoid the contraction and use "unless you are able".

What can I say instead of "unless you're able"?

Depending on the context, you can use "unless you can", "if you cannot" or "barring the ability to".

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: