few competencies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few competencies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small number of skills or abilities that someone possesses, often in a professional or educational context. Example: "In this role, you will need to demonstrate a few competencies, such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

For handling conflicts, one has to exhibit few competencies.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

A few competencies occurred in more than one domain.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Yet, only a few competency frameworks identified interactions with youth as a competency area.

Child and Youth Care Forum

We showcase the formulation of few competency questions, asked by the biomedical researchers trying to gather existing knowledge on EBOV, as SPARQL queries.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

To name but a few: the Competency Questionnaire, the Hopkins Competency Assessment Test, the MacCAT-T and MacCAT-CR and the Structured Interview for Competency and Assessment Testing and Ranking Inventory [ 28].

BMC Medical Ethics

Analyses of teacher profiles at baseline revealed teachers who felt parental involvement and bonding was low were also likely to rate students as having more externalizing behaviors, fewer social competencies, more attention deficit symptoms, and disruptive behaviors towards adults and peers compared to teachers with more adaptive profiles.

Journal of School Psychology

Nearly one third of participating graduate nurses remained advanced beginners and only a few achieved competency and proficiency.

BMC Nursing

In the Caribbean, low performing secondary schools are those whose students historically pass fewer critical competency examinations at the end of high school.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Despite increased emphasis on systems-based practice through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, few studies have examined what surgical residents know about coding and billing.

Journal of Surgical Education

Few question his competency to be president.

The New York Times

And while people on the spectrum range vastly in abilities and competencies, with few showing an aptitude for maths, it seems also that a significant proportion of people who are exceptionally good at maths have a higher than average number of autistic traits – a point made by the scholar of autism Simon Baron Cohen in Beautiful Young Minds.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "few" implies a negative connotation, suggesting a deficiency. If you wish to present the information more neutrally, consider using "a limited number of competencies" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "few competencies" when you intend to convey that the competencies are adequate or sufficient. "Few" implies a lack, so choose a more neutral phrase like "essential competencies" if that's your intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few competencies" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It typically describes a state of lacking certain abilities. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, generally referring to a limited number of skills or abilities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "few competencies" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a limited number of skills or abilities, often implying a deficiency. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including academic, professional, and general writing. However, be mindful of its negative connotation; alternative phrases like "limited abilities" or "essential skills" might be more appropriate depending on the intended message. It appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited skill set

Focuses on the restriction of skills within a defined group.

basic abilities

Emphasizes the fundamental nature of the limited abilities.

essential skills

Highlights the crucial aspect of a small number of skills.

core skills

Stresses the centrality and limited nature of these skills.

limited capabilities

Emphasizes the restriction in terms of potential.

restricted abilities

Highlights abilities which exist under certain constraints.

fundamental aptitudes

Focuses on the fundamental aspect of limited aptitudes.

primary capabilities

Emphasizes that the capabilities are the first to consider.

selected skills

Draws attention to the fact that a choice of specific skills was made.

narrow range of abilities

Specifies a limit in terms of variety regarding abilities.

FAQs

How do I use "few competencies" in a sentence?

You can use "few competencies" to describe a situation where someone possesses a limited set of skills or abilities. For example, "Despite his experience, he demonstrated "few competencies" in project management".

What are some alternatives to "few competencies"?

Alternatives include "limited skill set", "basic abilities", or "essential skills" depending on the context. Each alternative emphasizes different aspects of having a restricted range of abilities.

When is it appropriate to use "few competencies" instead of "limited competencies"?

"Few competencies" is suitable when you want to emphasize a lack or deficiency in skills. "Limited competencies" is a more neutral way of expressing that the range of skills is not extensive.

What's the difference between "few competencies" and "core competencies"?

"Few competencies" describes a small number of skills, often implying a lack. "Core competencies", on the other hand, refers to the most essential and important skills needed for a specific task or role.