a complementary skill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complementary skill" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a skill that enhances or supports another skill, often in a professional or educational context. Example: "Having a complementary skill in graphic design will help you stand out as a candidate for the marketing position."

✓ Grammatically correct

Global health, science and practice

The Guardian - Business

The New York Times

TechCrunch

Huffington Post

The Guardian - Sport

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Each Technical Support Unit is comprised of experts from the private and nonprofit sector with a complementary skill set to that found in the state government.

Global health, science and practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As chairman Tony Hayward put it: "Her record of non-executive director appointments, activist involvement and industry advisory board service is also an excellent complementary skill set to our Board.

The Guardian - Business

"We have found that conducting terrorism investigations is more art than science and requires a breadth of complementary skill sets," Mr. Silber said during one of several interviews this summer.

The New York Times

Habit design requires a fundamentally different, though complementary skill set to growth hacking.

TechCrunch

"Ecotricity were the world's first green electricity company, while Skanska aims to be the greenest construction company in the world – our shared pursuit of sustainability and our complementary skill sets creates a strong partnership.

The Guardian - Business

The idea is to potentially match those with different but complementary skill sets and backgrounds -- for example, a brilliant coder and a marketing guru -- to bring an entrepreneurial idea to fruition as co-founders.

Huffington Post

Gary Lineker, a classic box player who worked best when he was paired with an attacker with a different and complementary skill-set, suggests it seems to be an imperative now to have more strength than he had.

The Guardian - Sport

"Syco are having the usual commercial discussions with ITV Studios, which of course involve looking at the complementary skill sets that both companies bring to the table," said a Syco spokeswoman.

The Guardian

"You get two absolutely perfect complementary skill sets, but they live in such different worlds that they can't communicate with each other".

The New York Times

With many partnerships hingeing on complementary skill sets, founders may have opposing approaches to problem-solving, increasing the risk of potential conflict.

The Guardian

"However, working with Spin Master since the acquisition has been great as we have very complementary skill sets.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing team compositions, use "a complementary skill" to highlight how different skills work together for a common goal.

Common error

Avoid using "a complementary skill" when simply describing general skills; ensure the skill genuinely enhances or supports another specific skill.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a complementary skill" is to act as a noun phrase functioning as a direct object, subject complement, or appositive, often describing a skill that enhances or supports another skill. Ludwig confirms its usability in describing skill sets.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a complementary skill" is grammatically correct and is used to describe a skill that enhances or supports another. Ludwig AI indicates its applicability in various professional and educational contexts. While the phrase is not very common, it appears in reliable sources like The Guardian and The New York Times. When using this phrase, ensure that the skill genuinely enhances another and is not simply an additional skill. Alternatives such as ""a supporting skill"" or ""an enhancing skill"" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A supporting skill

Highlights the role of the skill in supporting other skills.

A supplementary skill

Emphasizes that the skill is added to enhance another.

An enhancing skill

Focuses on the skill's ability to enhance other skills or abilities.

A synergistic skill

Suggests that the skill works well with others for a combined effect.

A facilitating skill

Emphasizes the skill's role in making other skills easier to apply or develop.

An additional skill

Focuses on adding another skill, rather than the supportive nature.

An allied skill

Indicates that the skill is related to and works well with other skills.

A reciprocal skill

Highlights the mutual benefit between the skill and others.

A value-added skill

Implies that the skill increases the overall value of a skill set.

A correlated skill

Stresses the strong relationship and interaction between the skill and others.

FAQs

How can I use "a complementary skill" in a sentence?

You can use "a complementary skill" to describe a skill that enhances or supports another, such as, "Having a background in data analysis is "a complementary skill" to marketing, allowing for more targeted campaigns".

What is the difference between "a complementary skill" and "an additional skill"?

"A complementary skill" implies that the skill enhances or supports another specific skill, while "an additional skill" simply means an extra skill without necessarily implying a supportive relationship.

Which is correct, "complementary skills" or "complimentary skills"?

"Complementary skills" is correct when referring to skills that enhance each other. "Complimentary skills" would be incorrect as "complimentary" means expressing praise.

What can I say instead of "a complementary skill"?

You can use alternatives like "a supporting skill", "an additional skill", or "an enhancing skill" depending on the context.