building know how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building know how" is not entirely correct in standard written English; it should be "building know-how." You can use it when referring to the process of developing expertise or knowledge in a particular area.
Example: "Our company is focused on building know-how in sustainable energy solutions to stay ahead in the market."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This whole building knows how Bolton dealt with people," a dismayed senior state department official told me.

The Guardian

"Everybody in the building knows how to cross over the roof," said Carolyn Goldstein, 70, of the seventh floor, who has lived in the building for 28 years.

The New York Times

"I think working in Africa is both brave and smart: Brave because we are currently investing our time and money in building know-how in these parts of the world; and smart because Africa is the next big market, as the Chinese have already understood before anyone else," he said.

The New York Times

One of Mendes da Rocha's earliest projects, the Paulistano Athletic Club (1958), has been described as having a metal roof suspended on steel cables that "seems to hover like a spacecraft". His public buildings know how to play nicely with their neighbors, and the architect insists that private homes be good citizens too.

Los Angeles Times

"Anyone who's walked around a city looking up at the grandeur of the towering buildings knows how small you can feel amid such giants," Baraty told HuffPost in an email.

HuffPost

"The building folks know how buildings are made and how they fail".

Environmental Health Perspectives

Her key strength is building teams that know how to harness the power and creativity of video.

Forbes

These are buildings that know how to make streets and frame courtyards, crisply detailed with biscuity bricks and pre-cast concrete lintels.

The Guardian - Arts

Second: building know-how.

Forbes

"No one will be able to match his achievements, his dedication, his support for colleagues in need and his team building know-how".

BBC

The best entrepreneurs have their choice of investors, and will choose those that have cross-border networks, company building know-how and those that can act quickly.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "building know how", consider hyphenating it as "building know-how" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. While both forms are used, the hyphenated version is often preferred in formal writing.

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the hyphen in "building know-how". While not always incorrect, adding the hyphen enhances readability and aligns with standard English usage for compound nouns. Always consider your audience and the formality of the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building know how" functions as a noun phrase, typically describing the process of developing or accumulating specialized knowledge and skills. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is often used to refer to the active development of expertise.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "building know how" refers to the process of developing expertise and practical skills. Though often seen, Ludwig AI suggests that hyphenating it to "building know-how" improves grammatical correctness and clarity. This phrase appears mostly in news, science, and business contexts, indicating a professional register. Related alternatives include "developing expertise", "cultivating knowledge", and "enhancing skills". Remember to consider the specific nuance you want to convey when selecting the best phrase. Be aware that the hyphenated version is often favored in more formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

developing expertise

Focuses on the process of enhancing skills and knowledge in a field.

cultivating knowledge

Highlights the nurturing aspect of gaining information and understanding.

building capacity

Focuses on increasing the ability to handle tasks or projects effectively.

enhancing skills

Emphasizes the improvement of practical abilities.

developing capabilities

Emphasizes the improvement of overall capacity to perform.

fostering competence

Stresses the promotion of capability and proficiency.

establishing know-how

Highlights the process of firmly creating a base of practical knowledge.

growing capabilities

Indicates the expansion of one's capacity to perform tasks.

advancing expertise

Suggests the progressive enhancement of specialized knowledge.

acquiring proficiency

Highlights the attainment of expertise through learning and practice.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "building know how" in a sentence?

You can use "building know how" to describe the process of gaining expertise or skills. For example, "Our company is dedicated to building know how in renewable energy technologies to remain competitive."

What are some alternative phrases to "building know how"?

Alternatives include "developing expertise", "cultivating knowledge", or "enhancing skills". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "building know how"?

While commonly used, it is more grammatically correct and stylistically preferred to use "building know-how" with a hyphen. Ludwig AI recognizes both usages.

What's the difference between "building know how" and "acquiring know how"?

"Building know how" implies a gradual development of expertise, while "acquiring know how" suggests a more direct or immediate gaining of skills or knowledge.