bolster capabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bolster capabilities" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to enhance or improve skills, resources, or functions in various contexts, such as business, technology, or personal development. Example: "The new training program is designed to bolster capabilities among our staff, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Not only do these trainings bolster capabilities, but also they provide ideal forums for different agencies from different countries to come together, develop rapport, and build working relationships.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Now Iraq needs additional support to break the momentum of extremist groups and bolster the capabilities of Iraqi security forces," he said.

The New Yorker

Ad executives worry that Google and Microsoft, which is moving to bolster its capabilities in search and other areas of online advertising, will not stop there.

The New York Times

Creation of the United States Africa Command, which had been expected, will "strengthen our security cooperation with Africa and create new opportunities to bolster the capabilities of our partners in Africa," Mr. Bush said.

The New York Times

Concerns over issues of territory, sovereignty and maritime economic interests were rising amid "clearer trends" among neighbouring nations to modernise and bolster military capabilities.

BBC

The bill would be part of the Senate version of the renewal of the American COMPETES Act, bipartisan legislation that was passed in 2007 and reauthorized in 2010 and that aimed to bolster U.S. capabilities in the physical sciences.

Science Magazine

Mr Obama told reporters on Friday that he "will not be sending US troops back into Iraq", but that Iraq needed additional support to "break the momentum of extremist groups and bolster the capabilities of Iraqi security forces".

BBC

The details are less explicit here, but the Budget does promise that the ATO will be provided with "additional resources to combat domestic tobacco crops" and "ongoing funding to bolster its capabilities to detect and destroy domestically grown illicit tobacco crops".

Vice

The Personnel Plan reflects the need to bolster our capabilities to match our positioning.

Bplans

Regarding the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, A/S Shapiro stressed efforts to improve energy security and counter-terrorism, while bolstering the capabilities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the face of the Iranian threat.

The Guardian

Bolstering the capabilities of local military allies is a cornerstone of Obama's ambition, to remove the burden of security duties in the Middle East inherited from his predecessors.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to improve a specific area, use "bolster capabilities" to indicate a deliberate effort to strengthen existing skills and resources.

Common error

While versatile, "bolster capabilities" might sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "improve skills" or "get better" when speaking informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bolster capabilities" functions as a verb phrase where "bolster" acts as a transitive verb taking "capabilities" as its direct object. It indicates an action performed to enhance existing abilities. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bolster capabilities" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that effectively conveys the act of strengthening existing abilities or resources. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While versatile, it's best to avoid using it in overly informal settings, opting for simpler alternatives like "improve skills". The phrase enjoys high source quality and consistent usage, reinforcing its status as a reliable and effective expression for professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enhance skills

Focuses on improving the level of skill, suggesting a refinement process.

strengthen abilities

Emphasizes reinforcing existing abilities, making them more robust.

improve proficiencies

Highlights the enhancement of expertise and skill in specific areas.

develop competencies

Focuses on cultivating and expanding a range of necessary skills.

build capacity

Refers to increasing the overall ability to perform or produce.

increase effectiveness

Highlights making current skills/abilities more productive and efficient.

expand expertise

Emphasizes growing knowledge and skill in a particular field.

reinforce strengths

Focuses on solidifying existing strengths to improve overall performance.

cultivate talents

Implies nurturing and developing innate abilities.

sharpen skills

Suggests refining existing skills to a finer, more precise level.

FAQs

How can I use "bolster capabilities" in a sentence?

You can use "bolster capabilities" to describe efforts to strengthen or improve existing skills, resources, or functions. For example: "The training program aims to bolster capabilities in data analysis."

What are some alternatives to "bolster capabilities"?

Alternatives include "enhance skills", "strengthen abilities", or "improve proficiencies", depending on the specific context.

Is "bolster capabilities" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "bolster capabilities" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in business, academic, and technical contexts where a precise and professional tone is desired.

What's the difference between "bolster capabilities" and "develop capabilities"?

"Bolster capabilities" implies strengthening existing skills or resources, while "develop capabilities" suggests creating or building new ones from the ground up.