a professional of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a professional of" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to someone's expertise in a specific field, but it is more natural to use "a professional in" or "a professional at." Example: "She is a professional of graphic design" could be better stated as "She is a professional in graphic design."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He made a professional of me".

The Guardian - Sport

In a statement, the Scottish government said: "Dr Fraser is a professional of unimpeachable integrity.

The Guardian

He had met General Bacellar; to him, suicide seemed unlikely for a professional of Bacellar´s caliber".

The Guardian - Opinion

It was he who later wrote a catty article that labelled Borsellino as a "professional of the anti-mafia".

The Guardian - Arts

He was a professional of impeccable integrity and incisive intelligence whose immeasurable contributions were also marked with a lively wit.

The New York Times

The commentator had "gone beyond the permitted bounds of the right to freedom of speech," the court wrote in its decision, adding that Mr. Zemmour had a particular responsibility to respect those limits as a "professional of the media and of expression".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Magner is the only managing partner of a professional staff of eight, including three women.

Forbes

"He is a throwback to a campaign professional of an earlier day.

Vice

Visit to annual winter meeting of American Psychoanalytic Association, a professional society of 591 Freudians at the Hotel Roosevelt.

The New Yorker

I am proud to be part of such a professional group of folks.

Huffington Post

He was a founding member and past president of the Knee Society, a professional association of surgeons.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly indicates the area of expertise when using "a professional of" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid stacking prepositions. Phrases like "a professional of the field" can be simplified to "a professional in the field" or just "a field professional".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a professional of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun, acting as a descriptor to identify an individual with expertise or training in a particular area. Ludwig indicates that while usable, it's not the most common choice.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a professional of" is grammatically acceptable but not the most common way to denote expertise. As Ludwig suggests, "a professional in" is often a more natural alternative. While the phrase appears across various contexts, including news, science, and business, it's crucial to ensure the context warrants its use and to avoid overuse of the preposition "of". Consider alternatives like "expert in" or "specialist in" for improved clarity and contemporary style. The key takeaway is to use it judiciously, keeping in mind that more common alternatives often provide a smoother reading experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a professional in

Uses a more common preposition to indicate the area of expertise.

an expert in

Replaces "professional" with "expert", emphasizing deep knowledge.

a specialist in

Focuses on specialized skills within a field.

skilled at

Highlights proficiency in a particular task or area.

adept at

Suggests a natural talent and ease in performing a skill.

experienced in

Emphasizes practical knowledge gained over time.

a seasoned professional in

Adds the adjective "seasoned" to highlight extensive experience.

a master of

Implies exceptional skill and control in a particular field.

highly qualified in

Focuses on formal qualifications and training.

a leading authority in

Suggests recognized expertise and influence in a field.

FAQs

How can I use "a professional of" in a sentence?

While grammatically acceptable, "a professional of" can sound awkward. It's generally better to say "a professional in" or use alternatives like an "expert in" or "specialist in".

What's a more common way to say "a professional of"?

The phrases "a professional in" or "expert at" are generally more common and natural-sounding alternatives.

Is it incorrect to use "a professional of"?

It's not strictly incorrect, but it's less common and can sound slightly formal or outdated. Using "a professional in" is often a better choice.

What are some synonyms for "a professional of"?

Depending on the context, you could use synonyms like ""specialist in"", ""expert in"", or simply describe the person as having expertise in a specific area.