be competent to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be competent to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express the ability or qualification to do something. Example: "She was not competent to perform surgery on her own, so she asked for assistance from a more experienced doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Similarly, it has to be competent to be credible.

The Guardian

"I don't think the church would be competent to judge whether the way we did it was torture".

The New York Times

In 1996, after having said earlier that Mr. Gigante might be competent to stand trial, Dr. Schwartz firmly concluded that he was, while two other psychiatrists persisted in their views that he was not.

The New York Times

As Professor Stephen Mayson of the Legal Services Institute put it at the first LSB seminar, it's not about title; "it's about what functions we want people to perform and what they need to be competent to do them".

The Guardian

He said that he also wanted their opinion on whether Mr. Pan would be competent to stand trial, and if so, whether his treatment needs could interfere with his ability to assist in his defense.

The New York Times

It is also because, as with policy, even a journalist who spends huge chunks of his professional life reading opinions and briefs is unlikely to be competent to assess the quality of a jurist's reasoning outside a few domains.

The Economist

At the time of Mr. Nash's death, state prosecutors were appealing a federal ruling that he might not be competent to assist in his defense to the Supreme Court, Mr. Phalen said.

The New York Times

It is reasonable to ask if councils would be competent to become large-scale developers, given their patchy records, to which the honest answer would be that, as with any available option, public housebuilding is imperfect and there would be mistakes.

The Guardian

Then it does its best to decide which of them to hire and what it will take to attract them — even though no one in the room may be competent to sum up, much less assess, the work of the candidates in question.

The New Yorker

"It would not be in the interests of justice," the lawyers said, "if Mr. Moussaoui is found to be competent to make an acceptable voluntary waiver of the right to counsel, to require him to proceed with counsel, even as standby, who he believes are trying to harm him".

The New York Times

The Dutch patients' organization N.P.V., a Christian group with 66,000 members, strongly criticizes the current application of the law, saying the practice of euthanasia has been extended to encompass patients with dementia and other conditions who may not by definition be competent to request help in dying.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be competent to", ensure the context clearly defines the specific skill or area of competence you are referring to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "be competent to" in contexts where the individual or entity clearly lacks the necessary experience or training. Overstating competence can damage credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be competent to" functions as an infinitive phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the subject possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, or abilities to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be competent to" is a versatile phrase used to denote qualification and ability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across various domains, including science, news, and business. To enhance clarity, always specify the skill or knowledge being referenced. Common errors include overstating competence, which can undermine credibility. Related phrases like "be qualified to" and "be capable of" offer nuanced alternatives. By adhering to these guidelines, you can effectively and accurately convey competence in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be qualified to

Focuses on having the necessary formal qualifications or training.

be capable of

Emphasizes the inherent ability or potential to do something.

be able to

A more general term indicating the capacity or possibility to perform an action.

be skilled at

Highlights proficiency and expertise in a particular area.

be proficient in

Suggests a high degree of competence and expertise.

have the ability to

Emphasizes the possession of a specific skill or capacity.

be adept at

Highlights a natural talent or quickness in learning a skill.

be equal to

Suggests being up to the task, implying sufficient ability or strength.

be up to

An informal way of saying someone is capable or qualified.

be equal to the task

Emphasizes being able to manage a specific challenge or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "be competent to" in a sentence?

You can use "be competent to" to indicate someone has the necessary skills or qualifications to perform a task. For example: "The surgeon must "be competent to" perform the operation successfully."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "be competent to"?

Alternatives include "be qualified to", "be capable of", or "be able to" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "be competent to" or "be able to"?

"Be competent to" suggests a specific level of skill or expertise, while "be able to" is more general. Use "be competent to" when emphasizing qualification, and "be able to" for general ability.

Which prepositions usually follow "be competent"?

The phrase is typically followed by "to" and then a verb, as in "be competent to perform". You wouldn't usually use other prepositions after "be competent".