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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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agile

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The word "agile" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's ability to move, think, or accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently. For example, "Sandra is an agile thinker, able to make quick and accurate decisions".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Friends and colleagues would assume I was sulking – fretful about the budget, the traffic or the possibility that David Beckham would end up trotting around a football pitch for one last medley of complaints to the referee, misplaced passes and light tapping of the ankles of agile opponents as they raced by our national icon.

News & Media

The Guardian

The free data revolution started by Gordon Brown's government, and the Coalition's opening up of government procurement to smaller companies as well as its implementation of "agile" implementations through the Government Digital Service (GDS) has changed the face of government radically since January 2010.

Carbon War Room is bold and agile, RMI has the rigour," said Branson, who said he would continue to support the new operation financially.

News & Media

The Guardian

I predict that 2014 will be the year of the agile worker – this means giving staff access to data and information on the move, helping them spend more time with patients and less time travelling or in the office.

News & Media

The Guardian

As well as suffering increased risk of chest infections, strokes and heart attacks due to cold homes, elderly people become less agile, and more likely to fall and break a bone.

Agile people often think it's not necessary -- after all, they say, the analysis is best performed by the developers working closely with the customer as they go along.

News & Media

The Guardian

The Agile way is to embrace change, and more than that it's to structure your working practices around enabling and encouraging it.

News & Media

The Guardian

Graham Greene, infamously, reviewing Wee Willie Winkie in the London weekly Night and Day, wrote: "Infancy with her is a disguise, her appeal is more secret and more adult … her neat and well-developed rump twisted in the tap dance: her eyes had a sidelong searching coquetry … watch the way she measures a man with agile studio eyes, with dimpled depravity.

What impressed me most was how skilled and organised the "hooligans" were – they were a quick-moving, agile force, constantly changing while remaining a solid phalanx.

News & Media

The Guardian

Sacha Romanovitch, responsible for people and culture on Grant Thornton's national leadership board, suggested that organisations should, through their recruitment, create an agile board environment that is attractive and enables people to make their best contribution.

News & Media

The Guardian

A 1937 book called The Night Climbers of Cambridge was full of photographs of agile young men (exclusively) climbing up drainpipes, over fences and balancing atop the spires of the old colleges.

News & Media

The Guardian
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business contexts, use "agile" to highlight a company's ability to quickly adapt to market changes and competitive pressures. Example: "The company's agile strategy allowed it to thrive in the face of unexpected economic downturns."

Common error

Avoid using "agile" merely as a trendy term without demonstrating concrete examples of adaptability and responsiveness. Ensure that the context provides specific evidence of the quick adjustments and flexible strategies that define agility.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The adjective "agile" primarily functions as a descriptive term, characterizing something or someone as quick, nimble, and adaptable. It can describe physical agility (e.g., "agile opponents") or the ability to respond quickly to changes (as seen in contexts like "agile worker" or "agile management"). Ludwig AI confirms its usability across contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "agile" is a versatile adjective widely used to describe quickness, flexibility, and adaptability across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in writing. Its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science domains. Authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist frequently employ it. To ensure effective communication, avoid overusing "agile" as a mere buzzword; instead, provide concrete examples demonstrating adaptability. Related terms include "nimble", "adaptable" and "flexible".

FAQs

How can I use "agile" in a sentence?

You can use "agile" to describe quickness and flexibility in movement, thought, or processes. For example, "The gymnast was incredibly agile", or "The company needed an agile approach to problem-solving".

What are some synonyms for "agile"?

Alternatives to "agile" include "nimble", "adaptable", "flexible", and "responsive", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "agile" in a professional setting?

"Agile" is appropriate when describing a methodology or strategy that emphasizes flexibility, iterative development, and rapid response to change. It's commonly used in project management, software development, and business planning. For example: "We need to develop an agile methodology for this project".

What is the difference between "agile" and "inflexible"?

"Agile" describes the ability to move quickly and adapt easily, while "inflexible" describes the inability to change or adapt. Therefore, they are antonyms. An agile system is responsive and adaptable, whereas an inflexible system is rigid and resistant to change.

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Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: