honed ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "honed ability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a skill or talent that has been refined or improved over time through practice or experience. Example: "After years of training, she has developed a honed ability to analyze complex data sets quickly and accurately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And that was despite the fact that the image of the van was somewhat larger in the photograph than the image of the elephant, and that the minivan was red, not grey.This highly honed ability to notice animal activity (it applies to small familiar animals, such as pigeons, as well as large unfamiliar ones, such as elephants) argues that an animal-monitoring module is innate in the brain.

The Economist

Since the current study did not include a non-linguistic biological motion condition, we cannot exclude the possibility that this difference in activation between the groups for SL (deaf > hearing) reflects the honed ability of pSTG/S to process biological motion in signers.

Brain and Language

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In them, Walker honed his ability to please crowds.

The New York Times - Sports

DealBook » Wall Street's Go-To Public Relations Team  |  The public relations firm Sard Verbinnen has honed an "ability to influence a major news event without leaving fingerprints," Bloomberg Businessweek writes.

The New York Times

It was clear that, as the Derby grows ever more popular, so too have the fans honed their ability to capitalize on all those fresh baseballs being sprayed into the outfield seats by the dozens.

The New York Times - Sports

If the earliest "South Park" episodes reflected a juvenile desire to see what they could get away with on television, their later work suggests Mr. Parker and Mr. Stone have honed their ability to channel their growing exasperation with a polarized world into comedy.

The New York Times - Arts

Ziegler presents him as an unimaginative but selfless practitioner of Victorian values, instilled with notions of honour and service, whose experiences as a monarch honed his "ability to distinguish between the trivial and the important, the authentic and the spurious".

The Guardian - Books

From there, he journeyed on Missis­sippi River steamboats, where he honed his ability to read music (and may first have developed his trademark hoarseness), then Chicago, then New York, then Chicago again.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "honed ability" when you want to emphasize that a skill has been refined through practice and experience, making it more effective or precise.

Common error

Be careful not to use "honed ability" when the context already implies significant practice or refinement. For instance, avoid saying "a veteran with a honed ability" as the term 'veteran' already suggests extensive experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "honed ability" functions as a noun phrase, where 'honed' acts as an adjective modifying 'ability'. As Ludwig AI suggests, it accurately describes a skill or talent that has been refined through practice.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "honed ability" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe a skill that has been refined through consistent practice. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage in various contexts. While acceptable in neutral to professional settings like news, science, and business, careful use is advised to avoid redundancy. Alternatives such as "refined skill" or "sharpened talent" can be considered for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refined skill

Replaces "ability" with "skill" and "honed" with "refined", emphasizing precision.

sharpened talent

Substitutes "ability" with "talent" and "honed" with "sharpened", focusing on innate aptitude enhanced over time.

cultivated expertise

Uses "cultivated expertise" to suggest a more deliberate and nurtured development of skill.

polished proficiency

Replaces "honed ability" with "polished proficiency", highlighting the achievement of a high level of skill and grace.

developed aptitude

Uses "developed aptitude" focusing on the growth of a natural inclination or talent.

improved capability

Emphasizes the enhancement of one's capacity or potential through effort.

mastered competence

Highlights a comprehensive command of a particular skill or area of knowledge.

refined expertise

Similar to 'refined skill', but suggests a deeper, more specialized knowledge.

well-developed skill

A straightforward alternative that highlights the skill's level of development.

finely tuned aptitude

Emphasizes precision and adjustment in the development of a natural skill.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "honed ability" in a sentence?

Use "honed ability" to describe a specific skill that has been improved through dedicated practice. For example, "Her years of training gave her a "honed ability" to quickly assess complex situations".

What are some alternatives to using "honed ability" in my writing?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, you could use alternatives like "refined skill", "sharpened talent", or "developed aptitude".

Is it more appropriate to say "honed ability" or "honed skill"?

"Honed ability" and "honed skill" are interchangeable and both are grammatically correct. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context. For example, you can replace it with "refined expertise", which is also perfectly valid.

What does it mean to have a "honed ability"?

To have a "honed ability" means you possess a skill or capability that has been refined and improved through consistent practice and dedication, resulting in a high degree of proficiency.