ability to succeed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to succeed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's potential or capacity to achieve success in a particular area or endeavor. Example: "With hard work and dedication, she has the ability to succeed in her career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Critics were decrying our ability to succeed.

The New York Times - Sports

Be confident in your ability to succeed.

The New York Times

Mr. Noujaim displays little doubt about his ability to succeed.

The New York Times

"Their ability to succeed is their own doing," he said.

The New York Times

"My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed".

The Economist

Never doubt your ability to succeed in engineering.

Cornell University

A child's ability to succeed is not based on one big day of fanfare.

The New York Times

Obviously, our ability to succeed or to struggle had little to do with our SAT scores.

The New York Times

In particular, the Giants' ability to succeed in their hurry-up offense has been crucial.

The New York Times - Sports

"While people may respect honesty, they may also admire the ability to succeed".

The New York Times

But it also became hard for filmmakers of real ability to succeed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about broader systemic issues that impact populations, consider rewording such as "prospects for success".

Common error

Avoid using "ability to succeed" when actual success depends on external factors. It's better to acknowledge potential while recognizing possible obstacles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to succeed" functions as a noun phrase, where "ability" serves as the head noun and "to succeed" acts as an infinitive modifying the noun. This structure describes a capability or potential. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

32%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to succeed" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that describes someone's capacity to achieve success. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is found in varied contexts, primarily within news, academic, and scientific sources, making it a versatile choice for expressing potential or inherent capability. While alternatives like "potential for success" or "capacity to prosper" exist, "ability to succeed" directly emphasizes the skills and qualities necessary for achieving desired results. When using this phrase, it's important to consider whether actual success depends on external factors and acknowledge possible obstacles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potential for success

Substitutes "ability" with "potential", focusing on the possibility rather than the inherent capability.

capacity to prosper

Replaces "ability" with "capacity" and "succeed" with "prosper", suggesting a potential for thriving.

talent to achieve

Emphasizes innate talent as the driver for accomplishment, rather than learned ability.

aptitude for accomplishment

Uses "aptitude" to denote a natural inclination and "accomplishment" to describe the successful outcome.

competence to excel

Highlights competence as the key ingredient for surpassing expectations and achieving excellence.

skill to thrive

Focuses on possessing the skills necessary not just to succeed, but to flourish.

capability to flourish

Focuses on the inherent capability leading to a state of thriving.

power to prevail

Suggests an inherent strength or influence that enables one to overcome obstacles and succeed.

room for advancement

Implies that conditions are in place that allows one to advance and reach success.

chance of winning

Highlights possibility rather than existing attribute

FAQs

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

You can use "ability to succeed" to describe someone's inherent capacity to achieve a goal, as in "Her hard work demonstrates her "ability to succeed" in a competitive environment".

What are some alternatives to "ability to succeed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "potential for success", "capacity to prosper", or "talent to achieve".

Is it more appropriate to use "ability to succeed" or "potential to succeed"?

"Ability to succeed" implies a present capability, while "potential to succeed" suggests a future possibility. Choose the phrase that best reflects the current status of the subject.

What factors contribute to someone's "ability to succeed"?

Many factors can influence someone's "ability to succeed", including skills, knowledge, determination, and supportive environments. However, remember external circumstances also play a huge part in one's "prospects for success".