a sense of ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sense of ability" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing the feeling or idea that one is capable of doing something. For example, "She had a sense of ability that helped her succeed in her new job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The guarantee of assistance to live and move leads to a sense of ability.

The Guardian - Opinion

People who have strong ACCs tend to report a higher pain threshold (including emotional pain), a general feeling of life happiness, positive relationships, higher degree of focus, and a sense of ability to choose one's own path in life.

Forbes

When I believe in myself, there is a sense of ability, desire, confidence, peace, and momentum.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He said that if his unscripted encounters were mostly with reporters on his campaign plane, "people don't get a sense of my ability to relate to people.

The New York Times

These questions will hopefully highlight trends in his behavior to help you get a sense of his ability to change this behavior.

Columbia University

She also discovered that the worms have a sense of smell — the ability to detect airborne chemicals — as well as a sense of taste.

The New York Times - Science

It requires a sense of entitlement, the ability to network and self-promote without seeing yourself as an arrogant, schmoozing blowhard.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is clearly death, but there can also be assistance for the suffering and a sense of art's ability to challenge, console and entertain.

The New York Times - Arts

"You've got to make sure they have a sense of their own ability and what they're going to go and do," Gates said.

Independent

For those children with special educational needs, behaviour issues or unsettled home lives, particular benefits include a sense of belonging, improved ability to concentrate and focus on a task, a sense of responsibility and positive behaviour change.

The Guardian

Besides the obvious highly developed hand-and-eye skills, a good blacksmith needs a sound understanding of how metal behaves and, says Tyas, "a sense of proportionality – the ability to see how something will look.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sense of ability" to describe an individual's perception of their own capacity to perform tasks or achieve goals. It's effective when highlighting self-belief and confidence rather than objective skill.

Common error

Avoid using "a sense of ability" when actual, demonstrated skills are more relevant. If you're discussing concrete achievements, it's better to showcase those specific accomplishments directly instead of focusing on a subjective feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sense of ability" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes the feeling or idea that one is capable of doing something. Examples include "leads to a sense of ability" or "there is a sense of ability" showing its function in diverse sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a sense of ability" is a grammatically correct and meaningful expression used to describe the feeling or belief that one is capable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in a variety of contexts, primarily in news, science, and business-related content. It is particularly useful for highlighting self-confidence and the positive impact of various factors on one's self-perception. When using this phrase, consider whether you want to emphasize subjective feeling or objective skill, and use specific accomplishments when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a feeling of competence

Replaces 'ability' with 'competence', emphasizing the feeling of being capable.

a belief in one's capabilities

Focuses on the belief aspect of having skills and potential.

a perception of mastery

Highlights the idea of having control and skill in a particular area.

a consciousness of skill

Emphasizes being aware and mindful of one's own abilities.

an awareness of potential

Shifts focus to the future and the possibilities one's abilities may unlock.

a conviction of talent

Stresses a firm belief in inherent skills and gifts.

a recognition of aptitude

Highlights the identification and understanding of one's natural abilities.

a confidence in expertise

Specifically relates to feeling sure in one's specialized knowledge or skills.

a self-assuredness regarding capacity

Emphasizes the feeling of being secure about one's own capabilities.

a positive self-assessment of aptitude

Focuses on a favorable evaluation of one's inherent skills.

FAQs

How can I use "a sense of ability" in a sentence?

You can use "a sense of ability" to describe someone's confidence in their skills. For example, "The training gave her "a sense of ability" to handle complex projects".

What phrases are similar to "a sense of ability"?

Similar phrases include "a feeling of competence", "a belief in one's capabilities", or "a perception of mastery", which all convey a similar idea of self-assurance and skill.

Is there a difference between "a sense of ability" and "having ability"?

"A sense of ability" refers to the subjective feeling of being capable, while "having ability" implies possessing actual, demonstrable skills. One is about perception, the other about reality.

When is it appropriate to use "a sense of ability" versus simply stating someone's skill?

Use "a sense of ability" when you want to emphasize someone's self-confidence or belief in their skills, especially when the situation is subjective or dependent on personal feelings. If you need to link to a definition of "subjective", use "subjective". Otherwise, describe their actual skills directly when discussing objectively measurable talents or past performances.