acquire skills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire skills" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to gaining any type of abilities, abilities or knowledge necessary for a task. For example, "John works hard to acquire the skills he needs to become a successful graphic designer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most composers acquire skills as conductors, if only by necessity.

The New York Times - Arts

Brand ambassadors, she says, acquire skills that can lead to a job at the company.

The New York Times

The scars will linger as a generation fails to acquire skills.

The Economist

Productivity would fall because workers would acquire skills at a slower rate.

The New York Times - Books

The purpose of the Workforce Investment Act is to encourage displaced workers to acquire skills that job markets need.

The New York Times

Local sourcing will require huge numbers of Brazilian workers to acquire skills they currently lack.Further delays are possible.

The Economist

Kaul later wrote that he wanted to use this time to acquire skills in minimally invasive spine surgery which he could see was a developing field.

The Guardian

The new games use a mobile persona, a tiny avatar that represents a player visually and can acquire skills and status as play continues.

The New York Times - Tech

He declared himself sympathetic to the idea of earned release, so that prisoners committing themselves to learn and acquire skills would be set free early.

The Guardian - Opinion

During the course, you'll gather in-depth knowledge of the digital marketplace and acquire skills that can be applied to a wide variety of marketing and professional careers.

The Guardian

I want my children to acquire skills that let them get on in life and become happy, sociable, thoughtful, considerate people, but they'll always be autistic.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about career development or education, use "acquire skills" to emphasize the active process of gaining new abilities relevant to a specific job or field.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire skills" in contexts where simpler alternatives like "learn" or "gain" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire skills" functions as a verb phrase where "acquire" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("skills"). It describes the process of obtaining or gaining proficiency. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and suitable for written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire skills" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression denoting the gaining of new abilities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It's most commonly found in news, scientific, and business contexts, lending it a neutral to professional tone. While alternatives like "gain skills" or "learn skills" exist, "acquire skills" often implies a more deliberate and structured effort. When writing, consider the context and avoid overusing the phrase in simple situations. By considering these nuances, writers can effectively use "acquire skills" to convey the process of gaining new competencies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop skills

Focuses on the process of skill development rather than simply gaining them.

gain skills

A more general term for obtaining skills, lacking the active effort implied by "acquire".

obtain skills

Similar to "gain skills" but slightly more formal.

learn skills

Emphasizes the learning process involved in acquiring skills.

master skills

Implies a higher level of proficiency than simply acquiring skills.

cultivate skills

Suggests a gradual and careful development of skills.

hone skills

Focuses on refining existing skills to a sharper level.

build expertise

Highlights developing a deep and comprehensive understanding in a particular area.

pick up skills

Suggests acquiring skills informally or through experience.

improve proficiency

Targets the refinement of existing abilities to achieve higher competence levels.

FAQs

How can I use "acquire skills" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire skills" to describe the process of gaining new abilities. For example, "She attended the workshop to "acquire skills" in data analysis."

What's a more formal alternative to "acquire skills"?

A more formal alternative to "acquire skills" is "develop expertise", which suggests a deeper, more comprehensive understanding.

Is there a difference between "acquire skills" and "learn skills"?

"Acquire skills" emphasizes the process of gaining abilities, while "learn skills" focuses more on the act of learning itself. Although very similar, you can also "build skills".

What can I say instead of "acquire skills"?

You can use alternatives like "gain skills", "obtain skills", or "develop skills" depending on the specific context.