average skills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "average skills" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's abilities or competencies that are neither exceptional nor poor, but rather typical or standard. Example: "While he may not be the best player on the team, he has average skills that contribute to the overall performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The average worker with average skills will find intense competition globally.

The Guardian - Money

Imagine you're a middle class American, with an average education and average skills.

Harvard Business Review

In the past, workers with average skills, doing an average job, could earn an average lifestyle.

The New York Times

This should at least be true in patients with insect venom allergy that are tested by examiners with average skills.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

By David Galler The New Yorker, December 2 , 1967P. 58 Still young, with more than average skills, View Article By Jelani Cobb By David Remnick By Jia Tolentino By Seth Lind.

The New Yorker

By David Galler The New Yorker, December 2 , 1967P. 58 Still young, with more than average skills, View Article By Rivka Galchen By Jia Tolentino By David Remnick By Malcolm Gladwell.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

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

Journal of Hydrology

Hanowski, he said, has "good hockey sense, average skill, great shot," but that his skating is an "issue".

The Guardian - Sport

Yet today, he argued, it is increasingly a worker's greatest skill, not his average skill level, that matters.

The New York Times - Magazine

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

Harvard Business Review

Comparison of the computed and measured infragravity waves in 8 m water depth shows an average skill of approximately 80%.

Coastal Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's general competence, use "average skills" to convey that their abilities are typical and meet expected standards. For example, "The candidate possessed average skills in communication and teamwork."

Common error

Be cautious when using "average skills" to describe specific abilities without providing context. It might be more effective to specify the skills in question. Instead of saying "He has average skills", consider "He has average skills in data analysis but excels in project management."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average skills" functions as an adjective-noun combination, modifying a noun (skills) to indicate a typical or standard level of proficiency. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase, reinforcing its role in describing competence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

41%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "average skills" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe abilities that are typical or standard, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adjective-noun combination, serving to assess competence across diverse contexts. While alternatives like "moderate abilities" or "typical skillset" exist, "average skills" remains a straightforward and widely understood term. The phrase sees frequent use in news, science, and academia, reflecting its versatility. When using "average skills", ensure you provide adequate context to avoid overgeneralizations and enhance clarity. The prevalence and reliability of sources like The New York Times and The Guardian further solidify the phrase's acceptability and appropriateness in various settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderate abilities

Replaces "skills" with "abilities" and "average" with "moderate", suggesting a similar level of competence.

typical skillset

Uses "skillset" to emphasize the range of skills and replaces "average" with "typical", indicating a standard set of abilities.

standard competence

Focuses on "competence" as the key attribute and uses "standard" to denote an expected level.

ordinary capabilities

Replaces "skills" with "capabilities" and "average" with "ordinary", suggesting a common level of ability.

run-of-the-mill proficiency

Emphasizes "proficiency" and uses the idiom "run-of-the-mill" to indicate something common or unremarkable.

middle-of-the-road talents

Uses "talents" to refer to natural abilities and "middle-of-the-road" to suggest a level that is neither exceptional nor poor.

common aptitudes

Replaces "skills" with "aptitudes", highlighting natural inclinations, and "average" with "common", suggesting widespread abilities.

basic qualifications

Focuses on "qualifications" as necessary skills and uses "basic" to denote a foundational level.

sufficient expertise

Emphasizes "expertise" and uses "sufficient" to indicate an adequate level of skill.

adequate capabilities

Replaces skills with "capabilities", suggesting abilities, and uses "adequate" to indicate a satisfactory level.

FAQs

What does it mean to have "average skills"?

Having "average skills" means possessing a level of competence that is neither particularly high nor low; it represents the typical or standard level of ability in a given area.

What can I say instead of "average skills"?

You can use alternatives like "moderate abilities", "typical skillset", or "standard competence" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to have above-average or "average skills"?

It depends on the context. While above-average skills are generally desirable, having "average skills" is often sufficient for many roles and tasks. Continuous improvement is always beneficial.

How can I improve my "average skills"?

To improve your "average skills", identify the specific areas you want to develop, seek out training resources, practice regularly, and seek feedback from peers or mentors.