ability to demonstrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to demonstrate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's skills or competencies in showing or proving something, often in a professional or educational context. Example: "The candidate's ability to demonstrate effective communication skills was impressive during the interview."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The ability to demonstrate has also been heavily curtailed, she adds.

The Guardian

A pupil's ability to demonstrate experiments will be awarded a separate pass/fail certificate.

The Guardian

Her first testwill be her ability to demonstrate her independence from Israel itself.

The New York Times

Marai's great gift is his ability to demonstrate his characters' qualities rather than merely describe them.

The Washington Post

"They're taking away the ability to demonstrate the good, as well as the bad," he said.

The New York Times

School leaders are held to account by their ability to demonstrate they have secured a safe, calm school environment.

The Guardian

RCTs are considered the "gold standard" of research design because of their unparalleled ability to demonstrate cause and effect.

The Washington Post

Equally essential, therefore, is the instructor's ability to demonstrate why such knowledge is vital to the study of literature.

University of California, Berkeley

The ability to demonstrate the value of a project is in high demand in the tech world.

University of California, Berkeley

Through both approaches, students will gain a better understanding of material and a greater ability to demonstrate that understanding.

Harvard University

Apple will have another important advantage over many rivals: the ability to demonstrate Apple's TV capabilities in its stores.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ability to demonstrate" when you want to emphasize not just possessing a skill, but also being able to actively show it.

Common error

While acceptable, avoid overuse of "ability to demonstrate" in formal writing where more concise options like "demonstrated skill" or "proficiency" might be preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to demonstrate" functions primarily as a noun phrase, indicating a capacity or skill. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's about the skill and capacity to show or prove something. Its usage aligns with examples found across various contexts, highlighting active competence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

32%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to demonstrate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that highlights a person's capacity to actively display a skill or competence. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is deemed correct and apt for professional or educational settings. It is used across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science, as suggested by the examples. While broadly applicable, alternatives such as "skill in demonstrating" or "capacity to demonstrate" may offer a more concise alternative in certain formal writing situations. When using the phrase, it's effective to follow it with specific and measurable outcomes to reinforce the skill being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to demonstrate

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", emphasizing potential rather than realized skill.

skill in demonstrating

Focuses on "skill", highlighting expertise in the act of demonstrating.

proficiency in showing

Uses "proficiency" to suggest a high level of competence in showing something.

competence in illustrating

Employs "competence" to imply capability and uses "illustrating" as the method.

capability to prove

Substitutes "ability" with "capability" and "demonstrate" with "prove", focusing on verification.

aptitude for displaying

Highlights a natural talent or "aptitude" for displaying something.

facility in presenting

Indicates ease or "facility" in presenting information.

power to exhibit

Emphasizes the "power" or authority to exhibit something.

potential for revealing

Focuses on the "potential" to reveal or uncover something.

talent for manifesting

Suggests a natural "talent" for manifesting or making something evident.

FAQs

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

Use "ability to demonstrate" to highlight someone's capacity to actively show a skill or competence. For example, "The candidate's "ability to demonstrate" leadership was evident during the project simulation".

What are some alternatives to "ability to demonstrate"?

Alternatives include "capacity to demonstrate", "skill in demonstrating", or "competence in illustrating", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "ability to demonstrate" or "demonstrated ability"?

"Ability to demonstrate" emphasizes the potential or current capacity to show something. "Demonstrated ability" focuses on past instances where the ability was already shown. Use the one that better fits the context.

What's the difference between "ability to demonstrate" and "potential to demonstrate"?

"Ability to demonstrate" suggests an existing capability, while "potential to demonstrate" indicates a capacity that is not yet fully realized or proven.