good at everything

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'good at everything' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express someone is competent in every field or activity. For example, "He was a brilliant student; he was good at everything from math to sports."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He's good at everything".

The New York Times

"He was good at everything," Mary recalled.

The New Yorker

A. Lib is good at everything.

The New York Times

No musician can be good at everything.

The New York Times - Arts

"This kid was getting good at everything".

The New Yorker

No country can be good at everything".

The Guardian - Sport

He's basically good at everything he does".

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm good at everything," she said, rattling off her qualifications.

The New York Times

"And even the good ones are not good at everything".

The New York Times

Mr. Livingstone had been good at everything but losing.

The New York Times

You can't be "pretty good" at everything anymore.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "good at everything", consider if specifying key areas of competence would provide greater clarity and impact. Instead of saying "She's good at everything", try "She excels in both science and arts".

Common error

Avoid using "good at everything" when you can provide specific examples. Overgeneralizations can weaken your argument. Instead of stating that someone is universally competent, highlight their specific achievements and skills to make a more convincing case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good at everything" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a high level of competence or skill across a wide range of activities or subjects. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and commonly used. For example, 'He was good at everything he did'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "good at everything" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone with broad competence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage. While versatile, it's important to consider specific strengths for greater impact. Alternatives like "adept in all areas" or "skilled in every domain" offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts. Remember, while it's flattering to be known as "good at everything", focusing on specific achievements often provides more persuasive evidence of one's capabilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adept in all areas

Replaces "good" with a more formal synonym and specifies 'all areas'.

skilled in every domain

Uses "skilled" instead of "good" and replaces "everything" with "every domain", implying expertise.

highly proficient in all aspects

Emphasizes proficiency and uses the term 'all aspects' to cover a range of skills.

competent across the board

Focuses on competence rather than general goodness and uses the idiom 'across the board'.

talented across the spectrum

Focuses on talent and employs the phrase "across the spectrum" to mean a broad range of abilities.

excels in all endeavors

Emphasizes excellence and replaces "everything" with the more formal 'all endeavors'.

accomplished in diverse fields

Highlights accomplishment and replaces "everything" with "diverse fields", suggesting varied expertise.

versatile and capable

Highlights versatility and capability as qualities.

has a knack for everything

Uses "knack" to suggest a natural talent or aptitude.

a master of all trades

Uses an idiomatic expression suggesting proficiency in many skills.

FAQs

How can I use "good at everything" in a sentence?

You can use "good at everything" to describe someone who is competent in many different areas. For example: "He was a brilliant student; he was "good at everything" from math to sports."

What are some alternative ways to say "good at everything"?

Alternatives include "adept in all areas", "skilled in every domain", or "competent across the board".

Is it realistic to describe someone as "good at everything"?

While it's rare for someone to truly excel in every area, the phrase is often used to emphasize a person's broad range of skills and abilities. It's important to consider whether specifying particular strengths would be more accurate and impactful.

Which is correct, "good at everything" or "good in everything"?

"Good at everything" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Good in everything" is less idiomatic and not typically used.