exhibited an ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exhibited an ability" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone's demonstrated skill or talent in a particular area or task. Example: "During the competition, she exhibited an ability to solve complex problems quickly and efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He said that his son, from a young age, exhibited an ability to focus single-mindedly.

The New York Times - Arts

And unlike many athletic quarterbacks, he exhibited an ability to make stick throws from the pocket in obvious passing situations.

The New York Times

The school amazed itself with resilience and resolve, most reflected by its victory last month over more than 600 entrants in a national contest for the school that best exhibited an ability to rally its students and community.

The New York Times - Sports

And Louisville center Gorgui Dieng will be an N.B.A. prospect for his defensive skills — and he has exhibited an ability to score efficiently in the tourney — while electric guard Russ Smith hopes his skills can make him a first-rounder.

The New York Times

With their migration, those high-tech argonauts (Saxenian 2007) exhibited an ability to change and innovate; they brought their networks as well as their knowledge.

Triple Helix

Each of the cell lines exhibited an ability to repair JM216 induced platinum/DNA lesions in the N- ras gene (gene-specific repair) at equitoxic concentrations of drug.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Their performances aren't much more than competent — Patrick, a Broadway and television veteran, hits his marks; David exhibits an ability to time a joke, though the tightness of his face hurts his delivery.

The New York Times - Arts

Though much has been written about "educated" horses that appear to exhibit an ability to spell and count, it is generally agreed that in such cases a very perceptive animal is responding to cues from its master.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Moreover, denatured HeLa lysate (marked with a pentagram star) did not exhibit an ability of forming DSS1-protein adducts in a working condition (Fig. 2A; L7).

Protein & Cell

The excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy and UV254 analysis indicated that CS-MS exhibits an ability to remove some soluble organics, which contributed to the DOC reduction.

Journal of Environmental Sciences

The gel electrophoretic patterns of supercoiled pBR322 DNA with varying concentration of the Co Sn complex exhibit an ability to cleave DNA and follow hydrolytic pathway mechanism.

Journal of Organometallic Chemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exhibited an ability" when you want to highlight that someone or something has shown a particular skill or capacity through their actions or performance.

Common error

While "exhibited an ability" is grammatically sound, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "demonstrated a talent" or "displayed a skill" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exhibited an ability" functions as a verb phrase that describes the act of displaying or demonstrating a particular skill or capacity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exhibited an ability" is a grammatically correct and usable way to describe the demonstration of a particular skill or capacity. According to Ludwig AI, it's most commonly found in science and news contexts and while appropriate for various registers, it's crucial to consider alternatives like "demonstrated a talent" or "displayed a skill" to avoid repetition. This phrase serves to highlight observed capabilities, enhancing descriptions and adding emphasis to specific strengths.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrated a talent

Replaces "ability" with "talent", emphasizing a natural aptitude.

displayed a skill

Uses "skill" instead of "ability", focusing on acquired proficiency.

showed a capacity

Employs "capacity" to highlight potential or inherent capability.

manifested a proficiency

Replaces "exhibited" with "manifested" and "ability" with "proficiency", indicating a high degree of skill.

revealed an aptitude

Uses "aptitude" to suggest an inherent potential or suitability for something.

proved capable

Condenses the phrase to a simple assertion of competence.

possessed the faculty

Uses "faculty" to denote an inherent power or ability.

was competent

A more direct statement of competence.

excelled at

Highlights exceptional performance in a specific area.

was adept in

Focuses on skillfulness and dexterity in a particular domain.

FAQs

How can I use "exhibited an ability" in a sentence?

Use "exhibited an ability" to describe someone or something that has shown a particular skill or capacity. For example: "The student "exhibited an ability" to grasp complex concepts quickly."

What can I say instead of "exhibited an ability"?

You can use alternatives like "demonstrated a talent", "displayed a skill", or "showed a capacity" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "exhibited an ability" or "demonstrated an ability"?

Both phrases are correct, but "demonstrated an ability" might sound slightly more formal than "exhibited an ability". Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "exhibited an ability" and "possessed an ability"?

"Exhibited an ability" implies that the ability was shown or demonstrated, while "possessed an ability" simply means that the ability exists, whether or not it was shown. For example, "The athlete "exhibited an ability" to run fast during the race", versus "The athlete "possessed an ability" to run fast."