grew the ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew the ability" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not typically used, as "grew" is not the appropriate verb for this context. An example of a correct usage would be: "Over time, she developed the ability to solve complex problems."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But we grew the ability to build products for end users.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As databases grow, the ability to make accurate matches often declines.

The New York Times

It's a win-win situation, and as the database continues to grow, the ability to create complex networks keeps expanding, offering mentors a way to give back and mentees a path to follow on their job search.

Cornell University

"As the sport grows the ability to spend on playing talent to make the clubs stronger grows as well.

BBC

"We're growing gratitude and we're growing the ability to nurture something all the way through its life cycle," she said.

Forbes

As the influence of affluent donors and super PACs grows, the ability to raise small amounts via SMS could help shift power back to the general public.

TechCrunch

When you have a diverse set of people in a room and included in the corporate process, you grow the ability to have divergent thinking, which begets divergent outcomes.

Forbes

As the support for Android-based applications grows, the ability to leverage the computer power of Cius, independent of Virtual Desktop Integration and Cloud Computing, shall also continue to expand.

TechCrunch

Physically, though, we've grown the ability to set up an HQ and start working nearly anywhere.

Huffington Post

Since the lucrativeness of street style photography has grown, the ability to find those moments of honesty has become more difficult but not impossible.

Huffington Post

As the size of these datasets grow, the ability to computationally manage and characterize such data becomes a larger and more critical component of microbial ecology.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more conventional phrasing such as "developed the ability" or "gained the ability" for clear and effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "grew" to describe the development of skills or abilities. While growth applies to physical entities or abstract concepts, abilities are typically 'developed', 'gained', or 'acquired'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew the ability" functions as a verb phrase where "grew" acts as the main verb and "the ability" as the direct object. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is not standard English usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "grew the ability" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's best to opt for more conventional alternatives like "developed the ability" or "gained the ability" to clearly and effectively communicate the idea of developing a skill or capability. Although examples exist in news and media sources, they are infrequent and do not establish the phrase as proper usage. For clarity and professionalism, especially in formal writing, it's recommended to avoid "grew the ability".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

developed the ability

Replaces "grew" with "developed", a more standard verb for acquiring skills.

gained the ability

Substitutes "grew" with "gained", another common verb for acquiring skills or abilities.

acquired the ability

Replaces "grew" with "acquired", suggesting a more formal or deliberate gaining of ability.

cultivated the ability

Uses "cultivated" instead of "grew", implying a careful and gradual development of skill.

enhanced the ability

Focuses on improving an existing ability rather than initial development.

fostered the ability

Emphasizes nurturing or supporting the development of an ability.

improved the ability

Highlights making an existing ability better, rather than acquiring it.

expanded the ability

Focuses on increasing the scope or extent of an existing ability.

increased the capacity

Shifts from 'ability' to 'capacity', suggesting growth in potential or capability.

nurtured the ability

Implies careful attention and support in the development of an ability over time.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "grew the ability"?

Instead of "grew the ability", use phrases like "developed the ability", "gained the ability", or "acquired the ability" for more accurate and natural-sounding English.

Is "grew the ability" grammatically correct?

No, "grew the ability" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The verb "grow" is typically used for physical growth or abstract concepts that increase gradually, not for skills or abilities.

Can I use "grew the ability" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "grew the ability" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "cultivated the ability" or "enhanced the ability" for a more professional tone.

How does "grew the ability" differ from "developed the ability"?

"Grew the ability" is an uncommon and slightly awkward phrasing, while "developed the ability" is a standard and widely accepted way to express the gradual improvement or gaining of a skill.