limitation

And how could departments of literature, sociology or anthropology be competent given the same limitation?

The authors acknowledge several limitations in the available research.

Another limitation is that VBayesMM treats bacteria as independent actors, even though they often interact in complex, interdependent networks.

Mr. Kurlansky has nevertheless produced an enlightening and entertaining portrait of a community that deserves to be better remembered and understood, and that embodied, within its limitations, the best kind of American idealism.

Like most scientific research, the study has some limitations.