broad abilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broad abilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a wide range of skills or talents that a person possesses. Example: "Her broad abilities in both art and science make her an exceptional candidate for the interdisciplinary program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Colleges no longer have broad abilities to delay their own investigation into an assault until the conclusion of a criminal trial, as Penn State did.

The Guardian

The system's broad abilities could scan private information about legal activities and collect information on people who are not suspects, the critics say.

The New York Times

A statistical measure of how those improvements correlated to one another suggested, Lindenberger concluded, systematic improvements "at the level of broad abilities".

The New York Times - Magazine

According to Carroll, the middle stratum encompassed broad abilities (approximately 10) such as learning, retrieval ability, speediness, visual perception, fluid intelligence, and the production of ideas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The transcriptional complexity of mammalian cells suggests that they have broad abilities to respond to specific environmental stimuli and physiologic contexts.

BMC Medical Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Assume that it has a broad ability to consider problems and that it has access to the Internet.

The New Yorker

Because of the broad ability of mining companies to make claims, Mr. Squillace added, "without the time out, the choice is essentially made".

The New York Times

In a famous exchange from the original oral argument, Malcolm Stewart, a Deputy Solicitor General, claimed that Congress has a broad ability to regulate corporate communication as part of its role in overseeing elections.

The New Yorker

He said that both sides had agreed to house a new consumer financial protection agency within the Federal Reserve, with a director appointed by the president and broad ability to write rules governing mortgages, credit cards and the so-called shadow banking system of payday lenders, debt collectors, and loan originators and servicers.

The New York Times

Individual differences in the broad ability dimension General fluid intelligence (Gf) are typically assessed with visuospatial problem solving tasks, and particularly so among young children.

Intelligence

"A major problem" with almost all cognitive training studies is that researchers only measure improvement in skills such as memory based on an individual task, rather than a range of tasks that represent a broad ability, Lindenberger says.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "broad abilities" to describe traits applicable across various fields.

Common error

Avoid using "broad abilities" when describing expertise in a single, highly specialized field. The phrase is more appropriate for generalists than specialists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broad abilities" functions as a noun phrase, where "broad" modifies the noun "abilities". It describes the extent and variety of skills or talents possessed by an individual or entity. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "broad abilities" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes a wide range of skills or talents. Ludwig AI affirms this. While not as common as some alternatives, its use is appropriate in various formal and neutral contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic writing. To ensure accuracy, avoid using it to describe expertise in highly specialized fields and consider alternatives like "extensive capabilities" or "wide-ranging skills" for nuanced expressions. Understanding these nuances enables effective communication when discussing someone's diverse capabilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extensive capabilities

Replaces "abilities" with "capabilities", emphasizing the potential to perform a wide array of tasks.

wide-ranging skills

Substitutes "broad" with "wide-ranging" and "abilities" with "skills", focusing on the diverse nature of the skills possessed.

diverse talents

Emphasizes the variety of innate aptitudes rather than learned skills.

varied skill set

Highlights the comprehensive collection of skills one possesses.

comprehensive skill set

Similar to 'varied skill set' but stresses completeness and thoroughness of skills.

general competence

Suggests a basic proficiency across many fields, rather than mastery.

all-around proficiency

Highlights versatility and competence in multiple areas.

versatile skill set

Focuses on adaptability and the ability to apply skills in different situations.

wide spectrum of capabilities

Uses "spectrum" to represent the full extent of one's potential and skills.

global aptitude

Signifies a general intelligence or knack across various areas.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "broad abilities" in a sentence?

Use "broad abilities" to describe someone who is capable in many areas. For example, "Her "broad abilities" in both science and art make her a great candidate for this project."

What are some alternatives to "broad abilities"?

You can use alternatives such as "extensive capabilities", "wide-ranging skills", or "diverse talents" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "broad abilities" or "wide abilities"?

"Broad abilities" is the more common and idiomatic choice. While "wide abilities" is understandable, it isn't as frequently used or naturally sounding.

When is it inappropriate to use the term "broad abilities"?

It may be misleading to use "broad abilities" when referring to someone with deep expertise in a very narrow and specific field. The phrase suggests versatility across multiple areas, rather than intensive knowledge in one.