good at playing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "good at playing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's proficiency or skill in a particular game or activity. Example: "She is really good at playing the piano and often performs at local events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Men and women, good at playing games.

The New Yorker

Bush is good at playing a crowd.

The Guardian

I'm really good at playing center.

The New York Times - Sports

You are not very good at playing hard to get.

The New York Times

And I'm not very good at playing smarter".

The New York Times

He was clearly no good at playing poodle.

The Guardian - Opinion

She is very good at playing very ordinary women".

The Guardian

This is why he's so good at playing villains.

The Guardian

In short, Wisconsin is good at playing ugly.

The New York Times

He's big and strong and good at playing rolly-ball.

The New York Times

Stanners is, indeed, rather good at playing the blokeish card.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's aptitude, follow "good at playing" with a specific activity or role, such as "good at playing the piano" or "good at playing the villain", to provide clear context.

Common error

Avoid using "good at playing" in overly general contexts without specifying what one is good at. For example, instead of saying "He is good at playing", specify "He is good at playing the stock market."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good at playing" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied or stated noun. It indicates competence or skill in a particular activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "good at playing" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone's competence in a particular activity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is frequently used across various contexts, from news and media to academic writing and informal conversations. To maximize clarity, always specify the activity following the phrase. While alternatives like "skilled at playing" or "proficient in playing" exist, "good at playing" remains a straightforward and widely understood choice. By following these guidelines, you can confidently use "good at playing" in your writing to effectively convey someone's skill or aptitude.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skilled at playing

Replaces "good" with "skilled", emphasizing expertise.

proficient in playing

Uses "proficient" instead of "good", suggesting a higher level of mastery.

adept at playing

Substitutes "good" with "adept", indicating natural talent and skill.

talented at playing

Highlights the innate ability or gift for the activity.

excellent at playing

Replaces "good" with "excellent", emphasizing a higher degree of competence.

very capable of playing

Uses a more formal and explicit way to express ability.

highly competent in playing

Emphasizes a strong level of ability and knowledge in the activity.

excels at playing

Uses a verb to emphasize outstanding performance.

has a knack for playing

Indicates a natural inclination and ease in performing the activity.

is a natural at playing

Highlights the inherent talent and ease with which someone performs the activity.

FAQs

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

You can use "good at playing" to describe someone's skill or proficiency in a specific game, sport, or activity. For example, "She is "good at playing" the violin" or "He is "good at playing" chess.

What are some alternatives to saying "good at playing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "skilled at playing", "proficient in playing", or "adept at playing".

Is it grammatically correct to say "good at playing"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Good" is an adjective describing the level of skill, "at" is a preposition, and "playing" is a gerund functioning as a noun. It correctly indicates proficiency in an activity.

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

"Good at playing" is the correct and more common usage. "Good in playing" is less idiomatic and not generally preferred. The preposition "at" is typically used to indicate skill or aptitude.