abilities to separate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abilities to separate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's skills or capabilities in distinguishing or differentiating between things. Example: "Her abilities to separate fact from fiction make her an excellent journalist."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We should have greater faith in jurors' abilities to separate and weigh evidence properly.

The New York Times

Our goal was to determine both their abilities to separate active and inactive molecules, as well as to find which function shows the best correlation with the molecules' IC50 values.

Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM

CTCF is a protein with complex roles in gene regulation, having been shown to act as both transcriptional activator and repressor, and be responsible for two features of genomic "boundary elements," namely the abilities to separate chromatin with activating and inactivating histone modifications and to block enhancer-promoter interactions (recently reviewed in [14]).

Plosone

Relative affinities of BH3 peptides for Bcl-B were assessed by comparing their abilities to separate the Bcl-B 6His-Bim complex.

Cell Death and Disease

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Moreover, the prepared monolithic columns had a chiral separation ability to separate dl-amino acids.

Journal of Chromatography A

They are characterized by a large selectivity and the ability to separate substances based on the variation in sizes and shapes of separated molecules.

Applied Water Science

Their ability to separate water from bioethanol was determined.

Carbon

In general, resolution is the ability to separate two signals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As famously said by Geoffrey Howe, by drawing on the ability to separate words from meaning.

The Guardian

For both leaders, the ability to separate good from evil made killing easy.

The Washington Post

One hallmark of great leaders is their ability to separate the urgent from the merely important.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "abilities to separate", ensure the context clearly defines what is being separated and the basis for separation. For instance, "abilities to separate fact from fiction" is more informative than simply "abilities to separate".

Common error

Avoid vague statements. Saying someone has "abilities to separate" without specifying what they are separating can make your writing less impactful. Instead, specify what kind of separation you're referring to, like "abilities to separate strategic goals from daily tasks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abilities to separate" functions as a noun phrase, describing someone's capacity to distinguish or differentiate between things. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, though it is not as common as other similar phrases.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abilities to separate" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the capacity to distinguish or differentiate. According to Ludwig, this phrase is valid, although not as frequently used as other similar expressions. The phrase finds its usage in various contexts such as science and news media, indicating its versatility. While there may be a subtle distinction in emphasis compared to alternative phrases, understanding its specific application is key to conveying precise meaning in your writing. Remember to provide a clear context as to the object of separation to ensure clarity and impact, as advised by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to differentiate

Replaces "abilities" with "capacity" and "separate" with "differentiate", emphasizing a general capability.

skill in distinguishing

Substitutes "abilities" with "skill", highlighting expertise in the act of distinguishing.

talent for discerning

Replaces "abilities" with "talent" and "separate" with "discerning", suggesting an innate aptitude.

aptitude for segregating

Uses "aptitude" instead of "abilities" and "segregating" for "separate", focusing on a natural inclination to segregate.

power to discriminate

Employs "power" to indicate a strong ability and "discriminate" in place of "separate", suggesting the capacity to perceive differences.

facility in sorting

Replaces "abilities" with "facility" and "separate" with "sorting", emphasizing ease and efficiency in sorting things out.

potential for partitioning

Uses "potential" and replaces "separate" with "partitioning", focusing on the capability to divide into distinct parts.

competence in isolating

Replaces "abilities" with "competence" and "separate" with "isolating", highlighting the ability to isolate elements effectively.

knack for classifying

Substitutes "abilities" with "knack" and "separate" with "classifying", suggesting a natural and effortless way of classifying items.

strength in differentiating

Uses "strength" instead of "abilities", emphasizing a robust capability for differentiation.

FAQs

How can I use "abilities to separate" in a sentence?

You can use "abilities to separate" to describe someone's capacity to distinguish or differentiate between things, as in "Her abilities to separate relevant data from extraneous noise are crucial for this project".

What are some alternatives to "abilities to separate"?

Alternatives include "capacity to differentiate", "skill in distinguishing", or "talent for discerning", each carrying subtle differences in nuance.

Is it better to say "ability to separate" or "abilities to separate"?

"Ability to separate" refers to a general capacity, while "abilities to separate" suggests multiple, specific skills. The choice depends on whether you are referring to a singular, overarching skill or several distinct capabilities. For instance: the former: Her ability to separate the wheat from the chaff; the latter: His abilities to separate the data into actionable insight.

What's the difference between "abilities to separate" and "skills to distinguish"?

While similar, "abilities to separate" emphasizes the act of dividing or isolating, while "skills to distinguish" highlights the act of recognizing differences. The subtle difference lies in whether the focus is on segregation or differentiation.