ability to sense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to sense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's or something's capacity to perceive or detect stimuli or information from the environment. Example: "The ability to sense changes in temperature is crucial for many animals' survival."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So why the considerable ability to sense odors?

The New York Times - Science

Your ability to sense, and to act on, these factors could make a big difference.

The New York Times

Gradually he regained the ability to sense light touch, pressure and heat.

The New York Times

Much interest has been shown in various animals' ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One of them is an ability to sense when an occasion is about something greater than yourself.

The New York Times

I mean kinesthesia: the ability to sense the movement of one's limbs and other operable parts of the body.

The New York Times - Arts

As a result, the market's ability to sense the coming economic recovery may be more dubious than usual.

The New York Times

Nicolas Sarkozy is obsessed with François Mitterrand; his cunning, his tactical sense, his ability to sense his countrymen's pulse.

The Guardian - Opinion

I experienced this vividly: as my mother's cognition declined, her ability to sense a person's spirit increased.

The New York Times

Without these the system would have lacked, among other things, an ability to sense the transponders that civilian aircraft carry.

The Economist

Marino also had a lightning-quick release and an inordinate ability to sense pressure and avoid it.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex systems or organisms, use "ability to sense" to underscore their capacity to respond to environmental changes or internal stimuli. For example, "The plant's "ability to sense" light is crucial for photosynthesis."

Common error

Avoid using "ability to sense" in simple, everyday situations where a more direct verb like "see", "hear", or "feel" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to sense" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the capacity or power to perceive stimuli, signals, or changes, aligning with Ludwig's demonstration of diverse applications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to sense" is a versatile and widely used expression, predominantly found in scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and utility in describing the capacity to perceive and react to stimuli. While alternatives like "capacity to perceive" and "skill in detecting" exist, "ability to sense" maintains its relevance across various registers. It’s crucial to use the phrase judiciously, opting for simpler verbs like "see" or "hear" in everyday contexts to avoid unnecessary complexity. Ludwig's data highlights the phrase's significance in describing diverse phenomena, from biological processes to human intuition, solidifying its position as a valuable asset in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to perceive

Focuses on the inherent capability to become aware of something through the senses.

skill in detecting

Emphasizes a learned or developed proficiency in noticing or discovering something.

sense of awareness

Highlights the state of being conscious or informed about something.

faculty of perception

Refers to the innate or developed mental powers involved in understanding through the senses.

aptitude for recognizing

Stresses a natural inclination or talent for identifying something.

power of discernment

Highlights the mental or intuitive ability to distinguish or judge something clearly.

knack for noticing

Indicates a special or clever ability to detect something subtle or easily missed.

potential for observation

Emphasizes the capability to notice and pay attention to details.

talent for feeling

Focuses on an inherent gift related to emotional awareness or physical sensation.

capacity for apprehension

Highlights the intellectual faculty of understanding.

FAQs

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

Use "ability to sense" to describe a capacity to perceive or detect something, as in, "The shark's "ability to sense" electrical fields helps it find prey."

What's the difference between "ability to feel" and "ability to sense"?

"Ability to feel" often refers to emotional or physical sensations, while "ability to sense" can encompass a broader range of perceptions, including subtle environmental cues that don't necessarily evoke a strong feeling.

What can I say instead of "ability to sense"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "capacity to perceive", "skill in detecting", or "power of discernment".

Is "ability to sense the supernatural" a valid usage of "ability to sense"?

Yes, "ability to sense the supernatural" is a valid, though less common, usage. It refers to a purported capacity to perceive things beyond the normal range of sensory experience. It implies non-physical or extra-sensory perception.