acquire competences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire competences" is correct and usable in written English, although "competencies" is more commonly used.
You can use it when discussing the process of gaining skills or knowledge in a particular area. Example: "In order to succeed in this field, it is essential to acquire competences that are relevant to the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the intervention, participants acquire competences to deal with their high-risk personality traits.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some overwintering plants acquire competence to flower, after experiencing prolonged cold in winter, through a process termed vernalization.

Nature

Each student is expected to acquire competence in at least one methodology relevant to his or her own concentration and planned senior essay.

Yale University

In fieldwork, students acquire competence by engaging in practice and then bringing field experiences back into the academic setting for reflection and discussion.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

While approaching, some of the mesenchymal cells acquire competence so that they can respond to morphogens.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Kimball 1973:73-5, for instance, argues that complex auxiliary sequences like might have been are "vanishingly rare" in the pld, hence that children acquire competence with these constructions (in the sense of knowing the order in which to put the modal, perfect and progressive elements) without relevant experience.

SEP

We established improved conditions to routinely produce highly homogeneous cultures of neuroepithelial progenitors, which organize into neural tube-like rosettes when they acquire competence for neuronal production.

Plosone

These NPs will then acquire competence to produce neurons when they become part of the closing neural tube during neurulation, in a process that involves retinoid signalling from adjacent somites and the activity of proneural genes [6].

Plosone

Therefore, children must acquire competence in academic discourse in order to succeed in English-language schooling.

Applied Psycholinguistics

There is a need for a clear hierarchy of educational activities to effectively impart and acquire competence in EBM skills.

BMC Medical Education

PGC-like cells (PGCLCs) can also be induced in vitro from naive pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) after they acquire competence for germ cell fate after ∼48 hr culture in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and Activin A (Hayashi et al., 2011).

Cell

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acquire competences", consider whether "acquire competencies" or alternative phrases like "gain skills" or "develop abilities" might be more appropriate for your audience and context.

Common error

While "competences" is grammatically correct, the term "competencies" is more widely accepted and used in modern English. Using "competences" might sound slightly archaic or less natural to some readers. Prefer "competencies" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire competences" functions as a verb phrase, where "acquire" is the verb indicating the action of gaining something, and "competences" is the noun representing the skills or abilities being obtained. Ludwig indicates that while grammatically correct, the term "competencies" is more commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

Academia

27%

News & Media

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "acquire competences" is grammatically correct, "acquire competencies" is the more frequently used term. Ludwig AI indicates that alternative phrases such as "gain skills" or "develop abilities" may be more suitable depending on the context. Predominantly found in scientific and academic writing, the register is formal. Therefore, when aiming for clarity and modern usage, "acquire competencies" is generally preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquire skills

Replaces "competences" with the more common and general term "skills".

develop abilities

Substitutes "acquire" with "develop" and "competences" with "abilities", focusing on a gradual improvement.

gain expertise

Replaces "acquire" with "gain" and "competences" with "expertise", suggesting a deeper level of proficiency.

build proficiency

Emphasizes the process of constructing competence over time.

obtain qualifications

Focuses on achieving formal recognition of competence.

attain mastery

Suggests reaching a high level of skill and knowledge.

cultivate capabilities

Implies a deliberate effort to nurture and grow one's competences.

secure qualifications

Similar to obtain qualifications but implies a more competitive process.

earn credentials

Highlights the achievement aspect of gaining competences.

foster competence

Focuses on creating an environment that encourages the development of competence.

FAQs

Is "acquire competences" grammatically correct?

Yes, "acquire competences" is grammatically correct, although "competencies" is more frequently used. The difference is primarily in usage and common preference.

What's the difference between "acquire competences" and "acquire competencies"?

Both phrases are grammatically sound, but "acquire competencies" is the more conventional and frequently used form in contemporary English. The meaning is identical; the choice hinges on stylistic preference and audience expectation.

What can I say instead of "acquire competences"?

You can use alternatives like "gain skills", "develop abilities", or "build proficiency" depending on the context.

How to use "acquire competences" in a sentence?

Example: "The training program helps participants "acquire competences" in data analysis." However, consider using the more common "acquire competencies" for broader acceptance.