competence about

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to describe someone's level of knowledge or skill in a particular area. Example: "John's competence about computer programming is impressive. He can solve even the most complex coding problems with ease."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I find voters, including the least informed, possess modest competence about partisanship in campaign messaging.

Yale University

validated and reliable tools measuring the level of competence about breastfeeding amongst health professionals who attend mothers in primary care are scarce.

Midwifery

The Capitol has a new energy about it, a new respect about it, a new credibility and competence about it, and the physical now mirrors that reality".

The New York Times

Abstract: Considerable research uncovers fundamental limits to voter competence about parties and candidates, which may undermine their ability to hold incumbents accountable.

Yale University

De Pury was wearing a worn leather helmet, like an aviator from the nineteen-twenties, and she had a look of utter competence about her: thick shoulders, sun-mottled skin, cropped gray hair with Raggedy Ann bangs.

The New Yorker

We also consider personal identity; it is individuated by the locus of control, L i, which is relevant to scholastic effort in as much as individuals with a sense of competence about their abilities and a stronger feeling of control of success and failure in pursuing their own personal goals are likely to be more motivated in school.

IZA Journal of Development and Migration

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The other issue about competence is about how you deal with public investment.

The Guardian

It turns out that workplace success is not actually about competence but about popularity.

The Guardian - Money

Previous studies showed that knowledge and theoretical competences about the proper use of technical control measures (e.g., connecting hoses and removing bags correctly, good sealing, maintenance and cleaning) are needed to maximize efficacy in controlling exposure [ 28– 30].

BMC Public Health

The doubts about principle and competence are about to assume the utmost importance.

The Guardian - Opinion

Take the "steady hands" moment: Trump took Clinton's argument about competence and made it about physicality.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing someone's abilities, be specific about the area of "competence about". For example, instead of saying someone has "competence about" general topics, specify their "competence about" financial markets or medical procedures.

Common error

Avoid using "competence about" in very general terms. Ensure that you clearly define the subject area to which the competence applies to provide clear and specific information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "competence about" functions as a noun phrase followed by a preposition, typically modifying another noun or acting as a complement. Ludwig examples show it describing a voter's understanding of partisan messaging or a health professional's knowledge of breastfeeding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

38%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "competence about" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, particularly in scientific, news, and academic contexts. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes an individual's level of knowledge or skill in a specific area. It's crucial to clearly define the subject to which the competence refers and consider using alternative phrases like "proficiency in" or "knowledge of" to avoid overly formal language in less formal settings. Being specific enhances clarity and effectiveness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proficiency in

Replaces "competence" with "proficiency" and shifts the preposition to "in", emphasizing skill level.

expertise regarding

Substitutes "competence" with "expertise" and "about" with "regarding", highlighting specialized knowledge.

knowledge of

Focuses specifically on the knowledge aspect, replacing "competence" with "knowledge" and "about" with "of".

capability concerning

Uses "capability" instead of "competence" and "concerning" in place of "about", denoting the ability to do something.

skill in

Emphasizes the practical skill aspect, replacing "competence" with "skill" and "about" with "in".

understanding of

Focuses on comprehension, substituting "competence" with "understanding" and "about" with "of".

familiarity with

Implies a level of acquaintance, replacing "competence" with "familiarity" and "about" with "with".

awareness of

Highlights consciousness or knowledge, replacing "competence" with "awareness" and "about" with "of".

aptitude for

Indicates a natural ability, substituting "competence" with "aptitude" and "about" with "for".

capacity for

Emphasizes the inherent ability or potential, replacing "competence" with "capacity" and "about" with "for".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "competence about" in a sentence?

You can use phrases like "proficiency in", "expertise regarding", or "knowledge of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "competence in" or "competence about"?

While both are grammatically acceptable, "competence in" is often preferred for skills, while "competence about" is suitable when referring to understanding or knowledge of a subject. For example, "competence in programming" versus "competence about history".

What does it mean to have "competence about" something?

Having "competence about" something means you have a sufficient level of knowledge, skill, and understanding in that area, enabling you to perform tasks effectively and make informed decisions.

Are there contexts where "competence about" is not appropriate?

While grammatically correct, "competence about" might sound less natural in contexts where simpler alternatives like "knowledge of" or "understanding of" suffice. Overly formal or complex language can sometimes detract from clarity.