ability to attain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to attain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity or potential to achieve a certain goal or objective. Example: "Her ability to attain high scores in exams demonstrates her dedication and hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

1. Defining Our Goal: Since real personal empowerment requires the ability to attain specific outcomes, the first step we must take involves defining a personally meaningful goal that demonstrates our ability to have an impact.

HuffPost

CPR and First Aid – or the ability to attain these certifications by the first day of employment.

University of California, Berkeley

Happily, the actual classroom experience rouses Marco's latent ambitions, if not quite his ability to attain them.

The New York Times - Books

The authors reported that discontinuing growth hormone therapy in adolescence would limit the child's ability to attain "peak bone mass".

The New York Times - Health

He said that while the party's diverse components limit its ability to attain big majorities, they also mean "you're never going to wipe the Democratic Party out".

The New York Times

Each EA is evaluated for its ability to attain high-quality solutions with the fewest possible number of function evaluations.

Applied Soft Computing

1 Take ginkgo biloba Enhanced blood flow to the penis can improve a man's ability to attain and maintain an erection.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The skill of a geochronologist is demonstrated by the ability to attain the knowledge required and the precision necessary with the least number of analyses.

Britannica

This brings me to a question of the intersection of art and today's technology; how is technology affecting our ability to attain what Tagore calls the "creative ideal"?

University of California, Berkeley

Assessing the effect of excipients on the ability to attain and maintain supersaturation of drug-based solution may provide useful information for the design of solid formulations.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

"Given that universities have a compelling interest in obtaining diverse student bodies," Judge Wood wrote, "requiring a university to include exclusionary groups might undermine their ability to attain such diversity".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential or inherent qualities, use "ability to attain" to clearly convey the capacity to reach a specific goal. For instance, "The training program enhances the employee's "ability to attain" higher sales targets."

Common error

Avoid using "ability to attain" when the goal is unrealistic or impossible. For example, instead of saying "He had the "ability to attain" immortality", consider rephrasing to reflect realistic capabilities or aspirations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to attain" functions as a noun phrase followed by an infinitive, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes someone's capacity or potential to achieve a specific goal, as supported by the Ludwig AI analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ability to attain" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that denotes the capacity or potential to achieve a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent usage across diverse fields like science, news media, and academia. While alternatives such as "capacity to achieve" or "potential to reach" exist, "ability to attain" remains a clear and versatile choice. Remember to use this phrase when referring to realistic and achievable goals. Its broad applicability makes it a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to achieve

Replaces "ability" with "capacity" and "attain" with "achieve", focusing on the inherent potential.

potential to reach

Substitutes "ability" with "potential" and "attain" with "reach", highlighting the possibility of achieving a goal.

skill to gain

Uses "skill" instead of "ability" and "gain" instead of "attain", emphasizing the learned proficiency.

capability to obtain

Replaces "ability" with "capability" and "attain" with "obtain", stressing the power to get something.

power to accomplish

Uses "power" to convey ability and "accomplish" to suggest achieving a task, changing the tone to emphasize strength.

aptitude to secure

Substitutes "ability" with "aptitude" and "attain" with "secure", focusing on a natural talent for achieving something safely.

chance to realize

Shifts the focus to the opportunity to "realize" something, instead of the inherent ability.

facility to acquire

Emphasizes the ease with which something can be "acquired" rather than attained, using "facility".

means to procure

Focuses on the "means" or resources available to "procure" something, indicating a more concrete approach.

resources to achieve

Highlights the availability of "resources" needed to "achieve", rather than innate ability.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to attain" in a sentence?

"Ability to attain" is used to describe the capacity or potential to achieve a particular goal. For example: "Her "ability to attain" high grades is due to her hard work and dedication."

What are some alternatives to "ability to attain"?

Alternatives include "capacity to achieve", "potential to reach", or "skill to gain", depending on the context.

Is "ability to attain" formal or informal?

"Ability to attain" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary than the phrase itself.

What is the difference between "ability to attain" and "abilities to obtain"?

"Ability to attain" refers to a general capacity to achieve, while "abilities to obtain" suggests specific skills used to acquire something. The former is more about potential, the latter about concrete skills.