develop their abilities

USAGE SUMMARY

"develop their abilities" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's skills or talents that can be developed or honed. For example, "The coach worked hard to help the athletes develop their abilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Becoming a mother needs many more resources, and social networks are required to support the development of women emotionally, socially, psychologically, and culturally, while they develop their abilities as competent mothers.

BMC Psychiatry

Students will develop their abilities to write well-argued papers.

Stanford University

Players must build a team of monsters, level them up, develop their abilities and use them in battles.

The Guardian - Tech

Children both need and want to push their boundaries in order to explore their limits and develop their abilities".

Independent

Essentially, all playgrounds are designed to do the same thing: to help children develop their abilities, use up excess energy and keep them off the streets.

The Guardian - Arts

"They can be helpful because so much is going on in their backyard, and because they have a limitless budget to develop their abilities".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

It added: "Actors therefore develop their ability to give and take focus using voice, gesture and movement".

The Guardian

Students will additionally hone their communication skills and develop their ability to formulate and answer precise mathematical questions.

Stanford University

The committee, chaired by Lord Richard Best, said: "We encourage website operators further to develop their ability to monitor the use made of their services.

The Guardian

They've just not been given the same opportunity to develop their ability and given the same opportunity as white officers".

The Guardian

The Department aims to help deepen students' insights into their own experience and to develop their ability to express their ideas orally and in writing.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing long-term growth, consider using "cultivate their talents" to emphasize a nurturing approach. For specific, measurable improvements, "enhance their skills" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "develop their abilities" when the context implies refinement of existing skills rather than overall growth. Instead, consider using phrases like "hone their craft" or "sharpen their skills" for more precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "develop their abilities" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action aimed at improving or enhancing someone's skills, talents, or potential. This aligns with Ludwig's observation that it's used to refer to skills that can be developed or honed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

46%

Science

22%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "develop their abilities" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that describes the process of improving someone's skills and talents. According to Ludwig, it is appropriate for various contexts. It appears frequently in academic, news, and scientific sources. While versatile, consider context-specific synonyms like "enhance their skills" or "cultivate their talents" for nuanced meaning. Remember to focus on refining skills instead of using this more generic form. Overall, "develop their abilities" is a clear and reliable choice when describing skill enhancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improve their capabilities

Stresses the betterment of existing strengths, suggesting a practical and measurable enhancement.

sharpen their skills

Implies refining and making skills more precise, efficient, and effective.

enhance their skills

Highlights the improvement of specific capabilities rather than overall potential.

cultivate their talents

Focuses on nurturing innate gifts, implying a more delicate and careful development process.

advance their proficiency

Indicates progress to a higher level of expertise, focusing on demonstrable competence.

foster their aptitude

Highlights the encouragement and support of a natural inclination or talent, implying an inherent predisposition.

expand their potential

Emphasizes increasing the scope of what they are capable of achieving, rather than just refining current skills.

nurture their skills

Suggests a supportive and gentle approach to fostering skill growth, highlighting care and attention.

build their expertise

Focuses on creating a deep understanding and mastery in a particular area, suggesting a long-term investment in learning.

hone their craft

Implies refining a specific skill or art through practice and dedication, often associated with artisanal or specialized professions.

FAQs

How can I use "develop their abilities" in a sentence?

You can use "develop their abilities" to describe the process of improving someone's skills or talents. For example, "The training program aims to "develop their abilities" in leadership and communication".

What are some alternatives to "develop their abilities"?

Alternatives include "enhance their skills", "cultivate their talents", and "improve their capabilities", each carrying a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to say "develop their ability" or "develop their abilities"?

While both are grammatically correct, "develop their abilities" is often preferred when referring to multiple skills or areas of competence. "Develop their ability" may be used when focusing on a single, specific skill.

What is the difference between "develop their abilities" and "improve their abilities"?

"Develop their abilities" implies a broader, more fundamental growth of skills, while "improve their abilities" suggests refining and enhancing already existing skills. Think of developing as building something new and improving as making something better.