usability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "usability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the ease of use or effectiveness of a product, system, or service, particularly in the context of design and user experience. Example: "The usability of this software is impressive, making it easy for new users to navigate and complete tasks efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My first choice for future networking - given the security measures, usability, extensive worldwide coverage and cost-free registration - has to be Couchsurfing, followed by Hospitality Club, with yowtrip.com and bewelcome.org also showing potential.

The Guardian - Travel

Great design isn't just about looking good though, its about usability.

The Guardian

By blipping a page of the magazine, readers could see an up-to-date medals table that ran live data on the latest Olympic wins: 7% of the magazine's readership did so in the seven days following publication.This echoes the work of Layar, a Dutch AR platform, which focuses on extending the usability of print formats—such as magazines and postcards with interactive digital content.

The Economist

Revenues on the web are determined almost completely by usability".

The Economist

Yi Gang's comment on CNY's usability and Zhou's comment on more flexibility in CNY confirms the underlying trend of opening up CNY and suggests that the Chinese policy makers feel the need to speed up the process...Emphasis mine.

The Economist

By contrast, Microsoft's incentive is to make its operating system more sophisticated, in everything from parental controls to usability.

The Economist

And the visibility and usability provided by the app results in return use and more revenue for the airline.Passengers with access to digital tools can also ease the load on an airline's customer-service infrastructure.

The Economist

But to assess a site's usability, Dr Chi has created a program that does the opposite.

The Economist

The superior usability of Mac systems speaks for itself.SHERMAN LANGLondon, CanadaAutomatic replySIR Your article on Knob Creek's machinegun shoot is a pathetic tilt at legitimate gun owners and collectors ("The guns of October", October 21st).

The Economist

Besides Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the painter Peter Paul Rubens may best show the usability of Michelangelo's creations for a later great artist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This design principle takes into account the "biography" of every aspect of manufacture, use, and disposal: the choice of raw ingredients, transport of materials to the factory, fabrication process, durability of goods produced, usability of products, and recycling potential.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing digital products, consider specifying the type of "usability" being addressed, such as "website usability" or "app usability", to provide context.

Common error

Don't assume that designing for general "usability" automatically addresses accessibility needs. Ensure your design explicitly caters to users with disabilities by following WCAG guidelines.

Linguistic Context

The word "usability" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the degree to which something is easy to use and effective for its intended purpose. Ludwig AI indicates its role in assessing the quality of designs and interfaces, particularly in technology and product development.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "usability" refers to the ease with which a user can interact with a product or service. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in contexts related to technology and design. It is considered a noun and its usage spans across various fields including news media, encyclopedias and science. Improving "usability" often involves making systems more intuitive and accessible. Related concepts include "user-friendliness" and "ease of use".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

User-friendliness

Focuses on how easily a user can interact with something.

Ease of use

Emphasizes the simplicity and lack of difficulty in using something.

Usefulness

Highlights the quality of being valuable and beneficial in use.

Practicality

Highlights the usefulness and real-world applicability of something.

Operability

Focuses on the capacity to be used or operated effectively.

User experience (UX)

Focuses on the overall experience a user has while interacting with a product or service.

Efficiency

Emphasizes the ability to accomplish something with minimum wasted effort or expense.

Effectiveness

Highlights how well something achieves its intended result.

Functionality

Refers to the range of functions something can perform.

Accessibility

Highlights how easily something can be accessed and used by everyone, including people with disabilities.

FAQs

How is "usability" defined in user experience (UX) design?

In UX design, "usability" refers to how easily users can achieve their goals when interacting with a product, measured by efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Good "user experience" design prioritizes ease of use to enhance user engagement and task completion.

What are key factors that affect the "usability" of a website?

Key factors include clear navigation, intuitive design, fast loading times, and mobile responsiveness. Addressing these areas can significantly improve the "user experience" and encourage return visits.

Which is a more formal synonym for "usability"?

A more formal synonym for "usability" is "operability", which describes the quality of being easily operated or used.

How does "usability" testing improve product development?

"Usability" testing involves observing users as they interact with a product to identify pain points and areas for improvement. This feedback loop helps developers refine designs and enhance the "ease of use" before launch.