excels over another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excels over another" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "excels at" or "excels compared to." Example: "In terms of creativity, she excels at painting compared to her peers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is something that Mr. Vanska excels at over and over here: creating a sense of impending event, then delivering even more than he promised.

The New York Times

Between the two hydrogels, HPAS-AA hydrogel excels over the HPAS-NO hydrogel.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Self-criticism is demanded, and the company has shown that it excels over time at adapting to and perhaps even co-opting its rivals' best ideas.

The New York Times - Arts

He had the size and power of a sprinter but the conformation of a stayer (a horse that excels over a long distance).

Encyclopedia Britannica

But she might be hard-pressed to explain why that heartthrob excels over the merely buff.

Science Magazine

This is one area where watchOS excels over iOS, since Apple Watch's relatively small display necessitates a more explicit design language.

TechCrunch

The Gaussian-kernel based PSDF provides a smooth and accurate estimation of firing frequency along the time of the stimulus and excels over conventional peri-stimulus time histograms.

Plosone

The nontoxic nature of herbal medicines complements conventional treatment and excels over the synthetic drugs such as fluconazole, which are effective but come with considerable side effects and have high disease reoccurrence rate.

BioMed Research International

Another characteristic of professionals who excel over time in their respective fields without succumbing to burnout is that they practice well-being.

Huffington Post

It also trailed its category over the three-year period, though it excelled over the five-year period.

The New York Times

They excel over the existing solutions through the introduction of two co-ordinated feedbacks of the output estimation error: one correcting the continuous state estimates and another adjusting the discrete ones.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more conventional phrasing like "excels at", "excels in", or "outperforms" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "over" with "excel" to describe superiority. Instead, pair "excel" with prepositions like "at" or use alternative verbs such as "outperform" for clearer and grammatically sound writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excels over another" functions as a verb phrase aiming to express superiority of one entity compared to another. However, Ludwig AI identifies this construction as not being correct in standard written English. Standard alternatives such as "excels at" or "excels compared to" are preferable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excels over another" is grammatically questionable and not widely supported by authoritative sources. As Ludwig AI points out, standard English prefers alternatives like "excels at" or "excels compared to". When aiming to express that something is superior, it's advisable to use these grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone. Consider using phrases like "outperforms", "surpasses", or "is superior to" for clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excels compared to

Directly compares performance but uses a different preposition.

excels at

Focuses on specific strengths or talents rather than direct competition

excels above

Suggests a higher level of achievement, differing in the specific preposition used.

is superior to

Uses a different verb phrase to express the concept of being better than something else.

outperforms

Focuses specifically on superior performance, omitting the prepositional nuance.

excels against

Indicates competition, shifting the focus from general superiority.

surpasses

Implies exceeding or going beyond, differing in emphasis from direct comparison.

excels beyond

Indicates surpassing a limit or expectation, differing from directly outperforming another.

exceeds

Highlights surpassing a standard or limit, unlike directly comparing entities.

excels past

Implies moving beyond a certain level, differing from direct comparison.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "excels over another"?

You can use alternatives such as "outperforms", "surpasses", or "excels compared to" depending on the context.

Is "excels over another" grammatically correct?

While some instances of "excels over another" exist, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Prefer using "excels at" or "excels compared to" for better clarity and adherence to standard English.

How can I use "excels" correctly in a sentence?

Use "excels at" when referring to a specific skill or area of expertise. For comparing two entities, "excels compared to" or alternatives like "outperforms" are more appropriate.

What's the difference between "excels over another" and "excels at"?

"Excels over another" is generally considered non-standard. "Excels at" is correct and commonly used when specifying a skill or area where someone demonstrates superior ability. You can also use "is superior to" for comparisons.