average skill and

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "average skill and" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person's general abilities, or to distinguish between different levels of a particular skill. For example, "Aileen has both above average skill and attention to detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With more novice climbers reaching 8000 m summits under the watchful eye of professional guides, Huey and Salisbury have argued that any "decline in average skill and experience has been more than balanced by improved equipment and logistics, better weather forecasting, greater cumulative knowledge of the routes, and enhanced experience of... porters and leaders".

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When the commission issued its report in 1990, Professor MacVicar commented that the current emphasis on improving average skills and competency levels would prove to be "a castle-in-the-clouds strategy if the workplace is not also changed to make use of those skills.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The reduction in SEWNEs is greater than the increase in SEWEs, so total self-employment decreases over time at a decreasing rate (at higher values of average skills and productivity, the total self-employed rate levels off).

SERIEs

The most important thing a company's founder or CEO can do is to create mechanisms that do for the business what Deming and his followers did for quality mechanisms that enable even people with average skills and aptitudes (which is most of us) to do great work.

Forbes

"Easy to use, I only had average skills and could do it.

BMC Medical Education

Employees' long-term commitment facilitates higher retention, boosts average skill level, and ultimately translates into better service for clients.

Harvard Business Review

In our case study, the control goal is to achieve a better distribution of knowledge among the agents by reducing polarization, augmenting the average skill level and the average number of topics held by agents.

Computational Social Networks

He has a pleasant voice, a good sense of rhythm, and average skill with the guitar; unable to read music, he started out by memorizing songs as they came over his car radio.

The New Yorker

This conclusion is buttressed by our finding that both the number and the average skill level of the students selected for our study (on the basis of poor performance on the first DPA homework problems) were insignificantly different.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Overall, the ensemble model results are skillful, with an all site average skill score of about 0.4.

Journal of Hydrology

Rodriguez, who turns 29 in July, is the classic five-tool player, with well above average skill in hitting, hitting for power, fielding, throwing and running.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a group's overall skill, ensure the term "average skill and" accurately reflects the central tendency. Consider whether median or mode might be more appropriate depending on the distribution of skills.

Common error

Avoid using "average skill and" when you actually mean 'adequate skill'. "Average" refers to a statistical mean, while 'adequate' implies sufficiency for a specific task.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average skill and" functions as a modifier preceding a noun or noun phrase, serving to specify the characteristics or qualities associated with a particular skill level. It denotes a standard or typical level of proficiency, as indicated by Ludwig AI, that is neither exceptional nor deficient.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "average skill and" is a descriptive phrase used to indicate a typical or standard level of competence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for describing general abilities or distinguishing between skill levels. While its frequency is relatively rare, as indicated by the limited number of examples, it finds use in diverse contexts such as science, news, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately portrays the skill level intended, and consider alternatives if a more precise descriptor is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

typical competence and

Replaces "average skill" with "typical competence", emphasizing a standard level of ability.

moderate aptitude and

Substitutes "skill" with "aptitude", highlighting a natural inclination towards something.

standard proficiency and

Uses "standard proficiency" instead of "average skill", denoting an expected level of expertise.

ordinary capability and

Replaces "skill" with "capability", focusing on the general ability to perform a task.

common expertise and

Emphasizes the shared or widespread nature of the skill level.

general know-how and

Shifts from skill to "know-how", highlighting practical knowledge.

basic talent and

Uses "basic talent" to indicate a foundational level of skill.

regular capacity and

Focuses on the normal or expected capacity to perform.

middle-of-the-road competence and

This emphasizes that the competence is neither particularly high nor particularly low.

fair ability and

Highlights a decent, but not exceptional, level of ability.

FAQs

How can I use "average skill and" in a sentence?

You can use "average skill and" to describe a level of competence that is neither exceptional nor deficient. For example, "The project requires workers with average skill and attention to detail".

What's a good substitute for "average skill and"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "typical competence and", "moderate aptitude and", or "standard proficiency and" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it always negative to describe someone as having "average skill and"?

Not necessarily. It depends on the context. It simply means that someone's skill level is typical or normal, which isn't inherently negative unless the situation demands exceptional skills.

How does "average skill and" compare to "above average skill and"?

"Average skill and" indicates a typical level of ability, while "above average skill and" suggests a higher level of competence than is typical. The choice depends on accurately portraying the skill level being described.