governors ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "governors ability" is not correct in written English; it should be "governor's ability" to indicate possession.
You can use it when discussing the skills or capabilities of a specific governor. Example: "The governor's ability to lead during a crisis has been widely praised."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

How Colorado state employees are hired, evaluated and promoted is likely of less interest to these large corporations than the fact that the Governor supported Amendment S. The governor's ability to sign or veto legislation and power to appoint members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission bears more directly on the business of these companies.

Huffington Post

The lopsided results also raise questions about the governor's ability to wage a robust and competitive campaign for governor.

The New York Times

Particularly because of the reform platform on which he was elected governor, his ability to govern the state of New York and execute his duties as governor have been irreparably damaged.

The New York Times

Democrats, still smarting from the governor's ability to lure away part of their political base, are accusing the governor of putting the state's interests behind his own political ambitions and his concerns for the well-being of the national Republican Party.

The New York Times

After Democrats won back the governor's office in November, Republicans have tried to take away the new governor's ability to appoint judges.

The Washington Post

By the end of the day, Republicans had passed bills which reduced the number of potential gubernatorial appointees from 1,500 to 300 (there are currently roughly 1,400 McCrory hires working in state government), mandated that the governor's cabinet picks be approved by the state senate, and took away the governor's ability to appoint trustees to the University of North Carolina system.

Vice

Even as the bill I sponsored and passed in the state legislature curtailed the governor's ability to selectively police the nail salon segment of the greater beauty enhancement industry, the governor bypassed the law, using emergency regulations to impose unreachable mandates to just this one community.

Huffington Post

Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the Democratic leader, lauded the former governor's ability to transcend partisanship.

The New York Times

It would seem to limit a governor's ability to scare lawmakers into shape; it frightens away potential rivals.

The New York Times

One Democrat with close ties to Dean and the DNC said that expectations were unfairly high for the governor's ability to raise dollars through the Internet.

The Washington Post

"The change message, with the governor's ability to get things done, is obviously our strongest message right now," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the possessive form "governor's ability" to refer to the capability of a specific governor.

Common error

Be careful not to use "governors' ability" when referring to a single governor. This form is for when discussing the collective abilities of multiple governors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "governors ability" typically functions as a noun phrase, but is grammatically incorrect. A correct use would be "governor's ability", indicating the capacity or skill of a particular governor. The Ludwig AI explains the incorrect grammar of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "governors ability" might appear in various contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct form is "governor's ability" to denote the capability of a single governor. The use of "governors' ability" is appropriate only when referring to multiple governors. Given the grammatical issues, ensuring the correct possessive form is crucial for clear and accurate communication. While the phrase itself is flawed, its intended purpose is typically to discuss or evaluate a governor's capacity in different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

governor's capability

Changes from a general plural to a singular possessive form, emphasizing a specific governor.

governor's competence

Replaces "ability" with a synonym that denotes skill or effectiveness.

governor's power

Substitutes "ability" with "power", focusing on the official capacity and authority.

governor's capacity

A formal replacement for "ability", suggesting the governor's aptitude.

governor's proficiency

Indicates a high degree of skill or expertise, implying the governor is very capable.

what the governor can do

Explores the governor's capabilities in a more conversational and direct manner.

governor's skill set

Highlights the range of skills a governor possesses.

the extent of the governor's authority

Shifts focus to the scope and limits of the governor's official powers.

the governor's wherewithal

Replaces "ability" with "wherewithal", indicating the resources available to the governor.

scope of gubernatorial powers

Rephrases the concept to focus on the collective powers inherent in the gubernatorial position.

FAQs

How to use "governor's ability" in a sentence?

Use "governor's ability" to indicate a specific governor's capacity to perform a task. For example, "The governor's ability to negotiate effectively was crucial in resolving the budget crisis."

What can I say instead of "governor's ability"?

You can use alternatives like "governor's capability", "governor's competence", or "governor's power" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "governor's ability" or "governors ability"?

"Governor's ability" is correct when referring to a single governor. "Governors ability" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. "Governors' ability" is correct to refer to the capacity of multiple governors.

What's the difference between "governor's ability" and "governors' ability"?

"Governor's ability" refers to the ability of one governor, while "governors' ability" refers to the collective ability of multiple governors.