What you you think?

[Dan]

Is "extremely capable" a conflict of terms? I think it is. Capable means,
at least to me, fully able. I don't think one can be more than full. What
about "exceedingly able?"

Dan

[Jack Hamilton]

Post by Dan
Is "extremely capable" a conflict of terms? I think it is. Capable means,
at least to me, fully able. I don't think one can be more than full. What
about "exceedingly able?"

Both phrases are OK with me, but "extremely capable" sounds like
something I'd hear in marketing material.



Jack Hamilton
***@acm.org

-----
Though in a state of society some must have greater
luxuries and comforts than others, yet all should have
the necessities of life; and if the poor cannot exist,
in vain may the rich look for happiness or prosperity.
The legistlature is never so well employed as when they
look to the interests of those who are at a distance
from them in the ranks of society. It is their duty
to do so; religion calls for it; humanity calls for it;
and if there are hearts who are not awake to either of
those feelings, their own interests would dictate it.

Sir Lloyd Kenyon, Rex vs. Rusby, 1800

[Chris Croughton]

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:29:34 GMT, Dan

Post by Dan
Is "extremely capable" a conflict of terms? I think it is. Capable means,
at least to me, fully able. I don't think one can be more than full. What
about "exceedingly able?"

I think that 'extremely' and 'exceedingly' used like that are less than
'fully', not more. The scale goes something like:

capable
very capable
extremely capable
fully capable

It basically describes how capable the person is at doing whatever it
is, a person who is just capable has the ability but may not be able to
do it perfectly all the time, or possibly not at all at the moment. I
am capable of speaking Welsh, I just don't know enough words to do it
fluently, whereas someone who is fully capable of speaking Welsh could
do so at any time.

The Concise OED says of 'capable': competant, able or gifted. There's
no mention of being fully able (to do the thing perfectly), so it seems
that ther is room for improvement. For instance, a capable driver is
not necessarily as good as an expert driver (I would describe myself as
a capable or competant driver, not an expert one).

Chris C

[Loki Harfagr]

Post by Dan
Is "extremely capable" a conflict of terms? I think it is. Capable means,
at least to me, fully able. I don't think one can be more than full.

That's right, any tentative to hype a superlative has to be seen as
a "marketing men" Tourette syndrom ;-)

For your precise question, if you need to be certain that the reader
understands your "capable" as more than full, extend your sentence
with something like "he'll fit your aims", or so ...

Post by Dan
What
about "exceedingly able?"

Don't !
This is quite a recurrent overabuse from TV pseudo-reporters and
marketing men :-)
It'd be ridiculous to "exceed" the best, if so you wouldn't fit!