a general skill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a general skill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a skill that is broadly applicable across various tasks or fields, rather than being specialized. Example: "Communication is a general skill that is essential in both personal and professional settings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"They don't realise that graduate studies not only confer knowledge within a very special and perhaps narrow field, but also a general skill in methodology, analysis, and knowledge-seeking," says Inger Grufman of the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers.

Science Magazine

Self-efficacy is generally context-specific because it is related to the perceived difficulty of a particular action or behavior, while locus of control is a general skill that is thought to be stable across situations (Ajzen 2002).

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A lack of financing and a general skills shortage are among the biggest risk undermining UK's start-up scene, according to a new survey by the IoD 99 network – a group of more than 650 entrepreneurs under the age of 35.

Independent

Others may require that you sit for a health-specific exam in addition to a general skills exam.

WikiHow

Luxury Reach Chicago Marketing Consultancy Marketing is a catch-all bucket for those with a certain general skill set.

Forbes

Our starting point for the production function is Rosen (1982), who models the output from joint production of an entrepreneur together with several employees, each with a level of general skill.

SERIEs

The output defined in terms of quality-adjusted operational skills (l_{i}), jointly produced by a worker of skill (q_{i}) and an entrepreneur with general skill (q), is then given by (l_i =f qt_i q_i)) for all (i) hired by the entrepreneur, where (f is a linear homogeneous, increasing and concave function of inputs (qt_{i}) and (q_{i}).

SERIEs

The decline of traditional industries means people don't necessarily have the right kind of skills to drive a modern economy in addition to a more general skills shortage - compared to the rest of the UK, for example, Northern Ireland has a higher percentage of the working population with no qualifications.

The Guardian - Opinion

And I think that may be a more important overall general skill than any specific skill that one can have.

Forbes

However, neither study [36], [37] found a sleep effect in the general skill learning or in the sequence-specific learning.

Plosone

In this paper, a single attribute, the level of general skill, summarizes all individual characteristics.

SERIEs

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the importance of a skill applicable to numerous areas, use "a general skill" to underscore its broad relevance. This is particularly useful in fields like education, career development, and personal growth, highlighting the skill's transferability and value in diverse settings.

Common error

Avoid presenting every skill as "a general skill". Be precise about which skills have wide application and which are more domain-specific. Overusing "a general skill" can dilute its impact and make your writing seem less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general skill" functions as a noun phrase, where 'general' modifies 'skill'. It specifies the kind of skill being referred to, indicating that it's broadly applicable rather than specific. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a general skill" is used to describe an ability that is not limited to a particular context or task, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including science, news and media, and wiki articles. While not extremely common, it is easily understood and can be replaced with alternatives like ""a transferable skill"" or ""a basic competency"" for variety. When writing, be sure to use the phrase accurately, highlighting the skill's versatility while avoiding overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a transferable skill

This alternative highlights the ability of the skill to be applied across different contexts or jobs.

a versatile skill

This alternative emphasizes the adaptability of the skill to various tasks and situations.

a basic competency

This alternative focuses on the fundamental nature of the skill as a necessary ability.

a foundational skill

This alternative suggests that the skill forms a base for further learning or development.

a core skill

This alternative underlines the central importance of the skill.

an overarching skill

This alternative emphasizes the comprehensive and wide-ranging nature of the skill.

a universal skill

This alternative suggests that the skill is applicable to everyone, regardless of their background or profession.

an essential skill

This alternative highlights the necessity and importance of the skill.

a broad skill

This alternative underscores the wide scope and applicability of the skill.

a common skill

This alternative implies that the skill is frequently encountered or used.

FAQs

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

You can use "a general skill" to describe an ability that is broadly applicable. For example, "Communication is "a general skill" that is valuable in any career".

What are some alternatives to saying "a general skill"?

You can use alternatives such as "a transferable skill", "a versatile skill", or "a basic competency" to convey a similar meaning.

What makes a skill "a general skill"?

A skill is considered "a general skill" when it is useful and applicable in many different contexts, industries, or roles, rather than being specific to one particular task or job.

How does "a general skill" differ from a specialized skill?

A general skill is broadly applicable, while a specialized skill is specific to a particular task, industry, or role. For instance, problem-solving is "a general skill", while coding in Python is a specialized skill.