employ a skill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "employ a skill" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of utilizing a specific skill in a particular context or task. Example: "In order to succeed in this project, we need to employ a skill that focuses on effective communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Philosophers from Aristotle to Gilbert Ryle have held that whether or not to employ a skill is under a person's rational control.

The New York Times

We employ a skill estimation method especially suited for short-term, high-resolution time series.

Climate Dynamics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Evan and the team needed to employ a different set of skills.

International Journal of STEM Education

"You have to work with a lot of different people and employ a lot of different skills.

Los Angeles Times

With film and television you need to employ a different set of skills to try and achieve the same effect because you're surrounded by massive technical crews, you have muchless control as you're reliant on so many other departments to perform, and the acting itself is disjointed as you don't have the narrative to carry you throughemotionally.

Huffington Post

The management of a patient with CFS/ME requires the health professional to employ a wide range of skills, such as engagement, problem solving and developing a model of the illness in collaboration with the patient [ 13].

BMC Family Practice

For some conditions, treatment is straightforward and bio-medical, but for conditions like CFS/ME, GPs need to employ a wider range of skills, such as engagement, problem solving and developing a model of the illness in collaboration with the patient.

BMC Family Practice

Neeson plays an insurance salesman who must suddenly employ a very special set of skills to uncover the identity of a mysterious stranger on his train before the final stop – lest everyone onboard dies.

The Guardian - Film

Los Angeles, the last team in the conference to lock up a spot in the postseason, has perhaps been the league's best playoff team so far, employing a combination of grit, skill and superb goaltending to overwhelm opponents.

The New York Times - Sports

It took a lot of time for me to recognize that if I wanted to be a good leader, I was going to have to give up employing a lot of the skills that got me to that point.

TechCrunch

The skill also employs a metered-access paywall that allows listeners to stream up to 10 articles per week for free.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about skill utilization, consider the context. "Employ a skill" is suitable for formal writing, while alternatives like "use a skill" may be more appropriate for informal contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "employ a skill" in casual conversation or informal writing can sound stilted. Vary your language with more natural alternatives such as "use" or "apply".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "employ a skill" functions as a verb phrase, where "employ" is the transitive verb and "a skill" is the direct object. As shown in Ludwig, it indicates the action of utilizing a specific ability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "employ a skill" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of utilizing a specific ability. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and applicability across various contexts. While acceptable, it leans toward formality and professional usage. Consider alternatives like "use a skill" or "apply a skill" for more casual scenarios. To communicate successfully, choose the phrase that best suits your writing's intended register and desired effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utilize a skill

Replaces "employ" with "utilize", a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

apply a skill

Substitutes "employ" with "apply", indicating the active use of a skill in a specific situation.

exercise a skill

Replaces "employ" with "exercise", suggesting the practice and development of a skill.

make use of a skill

Replaces "employ" with "make use of", a more explicit and less formal way to express the same idea.

leverage a skill

Substitutes "employ" with "leverage", implying the strategic use of a skill for an advantage.

draw upon a skill

Replaces "employ" with "draw upon", indicating reliance on a skill as a resource.

put a skill to use

Changes the structure to emphasize the action of using the skill.

bring a skill to bear

Replaces "employ" with "bring to bear", suggesting the application of a skill to influence a situation.

tap into a skill

Uses "tap into" instead of "employ", suggesting accessing and utilizing a skill that may not be readily apparent.

exploit a skill

Replaces "employ" with "exploit", implying the efficient and sometimes opportunistic use of a skill.

FAQs

What does "employ a skill" mean?

The phrase "employ a skill" means to make use of a particular ability or competence in order to achieve a task or goal. It suggests a deliberate and purposeful application of that skill.

How can I /s/utilize+a+skill in a sentence?

You can use "employ a skill" in a sentence like this: "To solve this problem effectively, we must "employ a skill" in critical thinking".

What are some alternatives to saying "employ a skill"?

Some alternatives to "employ a skill" include "utilize a skill", "apply a skill", or "make use of a skill". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is it better to say "employ a skill" or "use a skill"?

Both "employ a skill" and "use a skill" are grammatically correct, but "employ" is generally considered more formal. "Use a skill" is often preferred in everyday conversation and informal writing.