a skills check

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a skills check" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an assessment or evaluation of someone's abilities or competencies in a specific area. Example: "Before starting the project, we need to conduct a skills check to ensure everyone is qualified for their roles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The chancellor said: "In line with our policy of rights matched by responsibilities, not only will jobseekers be required to undergo a skills check but new incentives will be piloted to encourage lone parents, incapacity benefit claimants and partners of the unemployed also to gain new skills".

The Guardian - Money

The Premier is expected to say: "Every British unemployed and inactive man and women should have a skills check, and to make sure Britain raises its education and skills game to world class, James Purnell will intensify welfare reforms to include compulsion for the unemployed and many inactive men and women not just to seek work but to acquire skills".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For example, you are attacked by a monster so you roll a skill check with an appropriate knowledge skill.

WikiHow

To see if you can afford to unlock a skill, check your current skill point balance displayed on the top-right corner of the screen, in big blue-violet numbers.

WikiHow

Only the tasks included in a skills-check were to be included on an actual exam, although some variations (e.g., different input files, different variables) were to be expected.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Mustering the nation is a chance for the authorities to hone their mobilisation skills, check the efficiency of local leaders and get a snapshot of internal movements.

Independent

To brush up on your skills, check out "When Words Collide: A Media Writer's Guide to Grammar and Style" By Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald.

WikiHow

If you don't have a traffic ticket but purely want to improve your driving skills, check with your insurance company to see if they compensate the costs of traffic courses for drivers with no moving violations.

WikiHow

If you want to test your geography skills, check out GeoGuessr, which presents you with a random Google Earth street picture and makes you guess where in the world it is.

WikiHow

If you're only interested in learning the basic skills, check your library for self-help books, or find a YouTube tutorial.

WikiHow

If the championships inspire you to refine your skills, check out the Fin McCool Surf School just north in Rossnowlagh.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a skills check" in professional contexts, specify the area of skills being checked to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "conduct a skills check", say "conduct a coding skills check".

Common error

Avoid using "a skills check" as a one-size-fits-all term. Always tailor the check to the specific skill set required, lest you gather irrelevant or misleading data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a skills check" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb. It refers to the act of evaluating or assessing someone's abilities in a specific area. As shown by Ludwig, it's found in contexts where evaluation of competences and abilities is required.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a skills check" is a noun phrase referring to an assessment or evaluation of someone's abilities or competencies. As confirmed by Ludwig, while grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare but appears across various domains, including news, wikis and science. When using the phrase, it's best to specify the area of skills being checked for clarity, and remember that alternatives like "skills assessment" or "competency evaluation" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capabilities check

Synonymous, but uses "capabilities" instead of "skills", offering a slight variation in wording.

skills assessment

Focuses on the evaluation aspect, omitting the element of verification or review implied by "check".

skill set verification

Highlights verifying a pre-existing skill set, rather than a general assessment.

competency evaluation

Highlights the evaluation of specific competencies, slightly more formal than "a skills check".

competence validation

Focuses on validating competence, suggesting a more formal and official confirmation of skills.

abilities test

Emphasizes testing a person's abilities, which is a common method for conducting a skills check.

proficiency review

Suggests a formal review of someone's proficiency level, more structured than a simple "check".

talent audit

Implies a comprehensive assessment of talent within an organization, broader in scope.

performance analysis

Focuses on analyzing past performance to gauge skills, different from a direct skills evaluation.

aptitude screening

Highlights screening for aptitude, which is a prediction of future skills rather than current ones.

FAQs

How can I use "a skills check" in a sentence?

You can use "a skills check" to refer to an assessment of someone's abilities. For example, "The company requires "a skills check" for all new hires to ensure they meet the job requirements."

What's an alternative to saying "a skills check"?

Alternatives to "a skills check" include "skills assessment", "competency evaluation", or "abilities test", depending on the context and the specific type of evaluation being performed.

Is "skills check" one word or two?

"Skills check" is typically used as two words, especially when preceded by an article like "a" or "the". It functions as a noun phrase describing an evaluation of skills.

What is the difference between "a skills check" and "a background check"?

"A skills check" assesses someone's abilities or competencies, whereas "a background check" investigates a person's history, such as employment, education, and criminal records.