desire for excellence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desire for excellence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's ambition for success or high standards. For example, "My brother has a strong desire for excellence, always aiming for the highest grades in school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

'&apos His wit, great energy, soaring imagination and fervent desire for excellence..

The New York Times - Books

Both athletes and dancers are driven by a desire for excellence.

The New York Times - Arts

Steve gave backbone to our desire for excellence and helped us form a remarkable management team.

Harvard Business Review

This suggests that research requiring a focus on capacity strengthening need not be avoided out of a desire for excellence.

Nature

It has done precisely what they hoped to do, which is instill that pride and that sort of desire for excellence here at the high school.

The New York Times

It's difficult to talk about your father dispassionately, but it seems to me fitting that he gives a prize for excellence, because he is consumed by the desire for excellence in all he does".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Fritz has studied people like Beethoven and Mozart, who were great technical masters of their crafts but who were also able to apply both their natural desire for technical excellence and their free-thinking creativity.

Science Magazine

Prospective clarification of expected career outcomes for graduates, establishment of career pathways for diploma-only graduates, and balancing desires for academic excellence with workloads that trainees were able to bear may have lessened ongoing losses of trainees and graduates.

Human Resources for Health

That Woods would risk swing changes at age 22, after already winning a major championship, reflects his desire for long-term excellence.

The New York Times - Sports

Haas Scholars come from all walks of life and every major on campus, but they are united by their desire to strive for excellence--both in their individual academic pursuits, and as an interdisciplinary cohort.

University of California, Berkeley

It can have a chilling effect on benchmarking, the widespread practice in which companies, motivated by pride and the desire to glean a reputation for excellence, freely share their best methodologies with others.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In personal statements or resumes, use "desire for excellence" to convey a strong work ethic and ambition to achieve outstanding results.

Common error

Avoid equating "desire for excellence" with unattainable perfection. While aiming for high standards is valuable, recognize that mistakes are part of growth and learning. Focus on continuous improvement rather than flawless execution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desire for excellence" functions as a noun phrase that represents a strong aspiration or ambition to achieve high standards and superior outcomes. It identifies the object of the "desire". Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "desire for excellence" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that expresses a strong motivation to achieve high standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. When using this phrase, aim for continuous improvement rather than unattainable perfection, and consider alternatives like "yearning for excellence" or "ambition for excellence" to add nuance. While the phrase is already correct and usable, remember these tips to leverage it most effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearning for excellence

This alternative emphasizes a strong feeling of wanting excellence.

passion for excellence

This alternative suggests a powerful and enthusiastic commitment to achieving excellence.

ambition for excellence

This alternative highlights the aspiration and drive to reach a high level of achievement.

striving for excellence

This alternative emphasizes the continuous effort and dedication towards achieving excellence.

pursuit of excellence

This alternative focuses on the active and ongoing quest to attain excellence.

quest for excellence

This alternative emphasizes a challenging search and journey to find excellence.

commitment to excellence

This alternative underscores a firm and dedicated pledge to maintain high standards.

dedication to excellence

This alternative highlights the devoted and unwavering focus on achieving excellence.

aspiration to excellence

This alternative emphasizes the hope and ambition to reach a high level of excellence.

zeal for excellence

This alternative suggests a fervent and enthusiastic drive towards achieving excellence.

FAQs

How can I express "desire for excellence" in a resume?

Instead of simply stating "desire for excellence", demonstrate it with action verbs and quantifiable achievements that reflect your commitment to high standards and continuous improvement. You could use alternatives like "yearning for excellence" or "passion for excellence".

What is the difference between "desire for excellence" and "desire for perfection"?

"Desire for excellence" implies striving for high standards and continuous improvement, while "desire for perfection" suggests an unattainable and often detrimental pursuit of flawlessness. It's healthier to "strive for excellence".

How to use "desire for excellence" in a sentence?

You can use "desire for excellence" to describe someone's ambition for success or high standards. For example, "My brother has a strong desire for excellence, always aiming for the highest grades in school." You can use alternatives like "pursuit of excellence".

What can I say instead of "desire for excellence"?

You can use alternatives like ""yearning for excellence"", "ambition for excellence", or "quest for excellence" depending on the context.