What is the difference between disadvantages and limitations?

As an expert in the field of linguistics and semantics, I specialize in the nuances of language and the subtle differences between words that may seem similar at first glance. Let's delve into the distinction between "disadvantages" and "limitations." Disadvantages are conditions or factors that put someone or something at a disadvantage in a particular situation. They can be inherent or imposed by external circumstances. For instance, a physical disability might be a disadvantage in a sports competition, or a lack of education could be a disadvantage in the job market. Disadvantages are often relative to a specific context and can be seen as obstacles that hinder success or progress. Limitations, on the other hand, refer to the inherent qualities or characteristics that restrict or confine someone or something. Limitations can be physical, mental, legal, or even technological. For example, the limitation of a car might be its top speed, or the limitation of a human might be their cognitive capacity. Limitations are often more about the inherent constraints of a system or an individual rather than the context-specific hurdles that are disadvantages. Now, let's consider the example provided: "Facebook cannot predict who you met today and automatically add them." This is a limitation of Facebook's predictive capabilities. It is a technological limitation because it is inherent to the system's design and current capabilities. It is not a disadvantage in the sense that it does not put Facebook at a disadvantage relative to its competitors or in the context of its operation; rather, it is a boundary of what the system can do. To summarize, while both disadvantages and limitations can hinder effectiveness or success, they are not interchangeable. A limitation is a specific type of disadvantage where the constraint is inherent to the system or individual, but not all disadvantages are limitations. Disadvantages are broader and can include a wider range of factors, including those that are situational or imposed by external factors.

They're not exactly the same thing, but they have many things in common. In fact, a limitation is technically a disadvantage, but the opposite is not always true. Example: Facebook cannot predict who you met today and automatically add them.