low ability vs weak ability

Both "low ability" and "weak ability" are correct phrases in English. They can be used interchangeably to describe someone's limited skills or proficiency in a particular area.

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Last updated: March 20, 2025 • 4786 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe someone's limited skills or proficiency in a particular area.

"low ability"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has a lower level of ability compared to others in a specific skill or area.

Examples:

He has a low ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
Students with low ability may need extra support in the classroom.

Show examples from the web [+]

Listen, what killed those people was a virus with an unusually low contagion ability.
Low-level psychic ability, exacerbated by an alien sun.
Low level psychic ability, exacerbated by an alien sun.
The funding of these investments would be possible at the expense of raising the level of taxes without contravening the basic conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact, but this would endanger the already low competitive ability of enterprises that are still in the build-up phase.
Insoluble inorganic ingredient with very low, or no ability to dissolve in water.
The strength of our currency, our capacity to import at low cost and our ability to attract investment to Europe are dependent on this strategy.
If you have such a low opinion of my abilities, how come we're here having dinner?
Even very low inflation hampers countries' ability to address over-indebtedness.
However, she noted that the supermarkets had the ability to create jobs for low skilled workers.
Since 1997, China and the U.S. demonstrated the ability to destroy satellites in low orbit with rockets.
Low level Powers like Chromachron and Dem Femmes here use it to boost their abilities.
It has the ability to do so, but its problem is that its growth potential is so terribly low, incomparably low.
Similarly, the Bank had overestimated its ability to exercise influence over firms with the aim of raising low business standards.
Your ability to concentrate or react may be reduced if you have too low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
Parliaments play a significant role in advancing reforms in public finance management but low levels of training of legislators in many countries limit their ability to perform efficiently.
The viruses have been selected because of their' low virulence' (limited ability to cause the disease).
It was exposed to competitive pressure from large companies and low-cost carriers and hence any further compensation could jeopardise ČSA's ability to become viable within a reasonable timescale.
Such financing would mean that Royal Mail is in a position to keep its prices artificially low, thus reducing TNT's ability to compete.
Europe's ability to make a substantial difference in the region nevertheless seems to be decidedly low considering the amount of human and financial resources committed.
The capacity utilisation remained low at 53-58 % throughout the whole period considered, affecting the Union industry's ability to absorb fixed costs.

Alternatives:

limited ability
poor ability
minimal ability
restricted ability
diminished ability

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe someone's limited skills or proficiency in a particular area.

"weak ability"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has a weaker level of ability compared to others in a specific skill or area.

Examples:

She has a weak ability to handle stressful situations.
Players with weak ability may struggle to compete at a high level.

Show examples from the web [+]

As far as the ability to raise capital is concerned, the low profit of the Union industry and its weak ability to generate cash made the increase of the internally generated funds very low.
Whatever is put in place cannot be seen to be weak and lacking the ability to control the harmful aspects that might develop.
Yet our ability to spot a lie is surprisingly weak.
High VTG values in control males could compromise the responsiveness of the assay and its ability to detect weak oestrogen agonists.
In particular, the ability of the Union industry to recover increased costs was weak at the end of the RIP.
In particular, the ability of the Union industry to recover increased costs was weak at the end of the RIP.
All these pressures, often exacerbated by weak responses by governments and public bodies, are threatening our ability in Europe to realise the great potential which biotechnology offers us.
As stated in recital 66, given the weak financial situation of the Union industry it can be concluded that its ability to raise capital from independent sources was seriously affected.
My ability to persuade the weak minded, my ticket to the top of the arts world.
Parameters for which insufficient data were available to prove usefulness or which showed only weak evidence in the validation programme of their ability to help in detection of endocrine disrupters are proposed as optional endpoints (see Appendix 2).
The duty of care towards suspected or accused persons who are in a potentially weak position, in particular because of physical impairments which affect their ability to communicate effectively, underpins a fair administration of justice.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am convinced that the European Union is still a democratic and civilised area, where people with real abilities receive recognition, and an area which offers a helping hand to the weak.
There has only just recently been a ban on cod fishing in the North Sea, and this clearly shows that there are some very weak links in the chain when it comes to the ability of the common fisheries policy to secure sustainable fisheries.
But there has been a problem, I can admit that when we have taken decisions at political level which are clear and in the right direction, the ability of the Commission to implement the decisions in all its services in the same way has been weak.
Is the Commission sure that the current auditing policy is not finding the recipients of the funds in a particularly weak and financially critical situation and that this policy is therefore making their situation and their ability to meet the demands of the audits even more difficult?

Alternatives:

limited ability
poor ability
minimal ability
restricted ability
diminished ability

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low ability vs weak ability

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