honed abilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "honed abilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe skills or talents that have been refined or improved over time through practice or experience. Example: "After years of training, she has honed her abilities in public speaking to a professional level."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It demonstrates Hiroshige's finely honed abilities to effect atmosphere.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Kerstens has a finely honed ability to bring out a sitter's best side.

The New York Times

Mr. Camacho has a finely honed ability to anticipate when a vegetable or fruit will ripen, and seems to know exactly when to harvest.

The New York Times

Of course, misery loves company, so a classic characteristic of the office whinger is the finely honed ability to seek out and find fellow disgruntled employees.

The Guardian - Money

Those were the first moments of Putin's arrival for his much-anticipated summit meeting with Trump — and they underscored his honed ability to maximize the power of the image and the drama of high-profile, made-for-TV political events.

The Washington Post

Beijing's finely honed ability to persuade key countries to help with its dirty work will be one of the main hurdles to the U.S. and United Nations' new efforts to open up the camps to investigators and ultimately end the massive human rights violations.

HuffPost

Her slightly-too-brainy work trades on our well-honed abilities to read photographs, but is both impressive and promising.

The New York Times

(And if you are wondering about their well-honed abilities in marketing, just visit an Apple Store).

Huffington Post

For the first few months, he mumbled something about the core competency of newspapers and magazines being their well-honed ability to spread the word around the world overnight via print, not bits and bytes.

The Economist

This could have profound implications for the tenor of a third Bloomberg term, not least that it is likely to hinder the mayor's well-honed ability to cow Democrats and liberal interest groups.

The New York Times

The authors conclude that their findings are consistent with the idea that detection systems for facial expressions have evolved differently in men and women, and that this finely-honed ability probably developed as a response to threat and danger.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's expertise, use "honed abilities" to highlight the effort and practice involved in achieving that level of skill.

Common error

Avoid using "honed abilities" in very casual or informal conversations. It can sound overly formal or pretentious in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "honed abilities" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "honed" modifies the noun "abilities". According to Ludwig, the phrase describes skills that have been refined or improved over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "honed abilities" refers to skills that have been carefully developed and refined through practice and experience. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and used to describe expertise. While not exceedingly common, its usage is appropriate in neutral contexts, particularly in News & Media. Related phrases include "refined skills" and "sharpened skills". When using "honed abilities", avoid overly casual settings, as it may sound too formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refined skills

This alternative uses a different adjective to describe skills, focusing on the idea of purification and improvement.

sharpened skills

This alternative suggests that the skills have become more focused and effective, like a sharpened blade.

developed talents

This alternative emphasizes the growth and expansion of natural aptitudes.

cultivated skills

This alternative implies a deliberate and careful process of improvement.

polished talents

This alternative suggests that the talents have been refined to a high degree of excellence.

improved capabilities

This alternative focuses on the enhancement of one's capacity to perform tasks.

enhanced aptitudes

This alternative highlights the strengthening and augmentation of natural inclinations.

mastered techniques

This alternative signifies a deep understanding and proficiency in specific methods.

expert skills

This alternative denotes a high level of competence and knowledge in a particular field.

highly developed skills

This alternative emphasizes the advanced stage of skill development.

FAQs

How can I use "honed abilities" in a sentence?

"Honed abilities" are typically used to describe skills that have been refined through practice or experience. For example, "After years of training, the athlete demonstrated "honed abilities" in gymnastics".

What are some alternatives to saying "honed abilities"?

You can use alternatives like "refined skills", "sharpened skills", or "developed talents" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "well-honed abilities"?

Yes, "well-honed abilities" is grammatically correct and emphasizes the high degree to which the abilities have been developed. It suggests a thorough and effective refinement process.

What is the difference between "honed abilities" and "innate talents"?

"Honed abilities" refer to skills that have been developed through practice and effort, while "innate talents" are natural aptitudes or gifts that a person is born with. You can "cultivate talents" by working on them, but the base talent is already there.