improve skills

USAGE SUMMARY

"improve skills" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing ways to gain new abilities or experiences, or when discussing improving one's abilities in an existing skill. For example: "John decided to take a class to improve his computer skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Computer programs designed to improve skills have sold well, too.

The New York Times - Books

Labour has also promised to introduce a "gold standard" system of vocational training to improve skills.

The Guardian

A vibrant FE sector is essential to improve skills and provide quality education.

The Guardian

The CIPD said it was vital the scheme was expanded to include measures to improve skills.

The Guardian

Certainly, there were a few supply-side measures designed to boost productivity, encourage research and development, and improve skills.

The Guardian

The National Skills Academy for Health NSA Apprenticeship Training Agencycy, which was set up last September, aims to improve skills training across the sector.

The Guardian

But, he says, retraining and other programs intended to improve skills of workers who might otherwise be jobless have helped ease the pain.

The New York Times

It also said that delivering the development potential of new technology would require regulations to ensure competition among business, action to improve skills, and more accountable institutions.

The Guardian - Tech

As well as FragDenStaat, Palmetshofer cites a number of other project examples that OKF is using to help improve skills and knowledge both locally and nationally.

The Guardian

For thousands of Long Island teachers, taking courses during the summer gives them a chance to improve skills, advance careers or just keep up with their own students.

The New York Times

I am obsessed with the need to improve skills at the foundation stage, 5-11, and youth development stage, 12-16.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing professional development, use "improve skills" to highlight specific areas of enhancement, such as "improve communication skills" or "improve technical skills".

Common error

Avoid using "improve skills" without specifying which skills are being improved. Be specific to provide context and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve skills" functions as a verb phrase + noun combination, where "improve" acts as a transitive verb and "skills" serves as the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "improve skills" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the process of enhancing one's abilities. As Ludwig AI points out, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify which skills are being improved. Alternatives like "enhance expertise" or "develop capabilities" can be used for a more formal tone. This phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop capabilities

Substitutes "skills" with "capabilities" and "improve" with "develop", implying a broader range of abilities.

enhance expertise

Replaces general skills with more specific expertise and "improve" with "enhance".

sharpen abilities

Uses the verb "sharpen" to emphasize refining existing abilities, rather than simply making them better.

boost proficiency

Replaces "improve" with "boost" and "skills" with "proficiency", suggesting a significant increase in competence.

refine techniques

Focuses specifically on improving methods or procedures, rather than general skills.

advance competence

Similar to enhance expertise, but "competence" is slightly more general.

hone talents

Implies refining natural abilities or gifts.

cultivate mastery

Suggests a deep and comprehensive development of skills, leading to expertise.

upgrade qualifications

Emphasizes the formal enhancement of credentials and skills.

build expertise

Focuses on creating expertise where it may not significantly exist at all.

FAQs

How can I use "improve skills" in a sentence?

You can use "improve skills" in a sentence to describe actions taken to enhance abilities, such as, "Taking online courses can help you "improve skills" relevant to your career".

What's a more formal way to say "improve skills"?

In formal contexts, you might use phrases like "enhance expertise" or "develop capabilities" instead of "improve skills".

Is it better to say "improve skill" or "improve skills"?

It depends on the context. Use "improve skill" when referring to a single skill, and ""improve skills"" when referring to multiple abilities.

What are some actions I can take to "improve skills" in my field?

Consider actions like attending workshops, pursuing certifications, or seeking mentorship to "improve skills" relevant to your profession.