intellectual competence

USAGE SUMMARY

'intellectual competence' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to somebody's ability to think critically and creatively on a particular subject. For example, "She impressed us all with her intellectual competence during the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

For beliefs Sosa identifies accuracy with truth, adroitness with manifesting intellectual competence, and aptness with being "true because competent".

SEP

Give China time and it will become the new US in intellectual competence as well as economic might.

Independent

Skeptical about the college's philosophy, derived from John Dewey, of educating the "whole child," he championed "intellectual competence" as the principal goal of education.

The New York Times

Indeed, much of Strauss's work is a radical attack — made with the greatest intellectual competence — against the latter-­day enemies of both the Bible and a Socratic Aristotle.

The New York Times - Books

Whenever he is prevailed upon to speak his mind, he does so in the manner of one little used to the give and take of discourse that passes between people of equal intellectual competence.

The Guardian

In Great Britain, traditionally one of the great advocates of entry by formal examination, the Civil Service Commission relies more on informal tests and a series of interviews and observations and tends to measure the candidate's intellectual competence by the quality of his university degree.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Despite their differing professional roles, all groups of grand rounds attendees valued clinically-useful topics, and identified intellectual stimulation, competence, continuing education credit for licensure, social interaction, entertainment value, and convenience as important motivating factors, though emphasis differed among the groups.

BMC Medical Education

Intellectual classes' cognitive competence, as indicated by scores for the top 5percentt of the population on PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS, also had a strong impact (β = .50 .54).50 .54

Intelligence

White teeth have been positively correlated with high ratings of social competence, intellectual ability, psychological adjustment and relationship status [ 6].

BMC Oral Health

Emotional intelligence has broad definitions; one being the ability of an individual to monitor and regulate emotions, to promote emotional and intellectual growth through competence in perceiving, using, facilitating, and understanding emotions [ 10].

BMC Medical Education

Results focus on: 1) the families' present situation, healh representations and their social/relational and parental competences ; 2) for the young people: the intellectual and scholastic competences, behaviour, social relationships with their peers.

Annales Médico-psychologiques, revue psychiatrique

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing educational goals, use "intellectual competence" to emphasize the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Common error

Avoid using "intellectual competence" in casual conversations; opt for simpler terms like "smartness" or "intelligence" for better resonance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intellectual competence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the ability to effectively understand, process, and apply knowledge. As shown by Ludwig, it relates to cognitive skill in various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intellectual competence" is a grammatically sound and relatively common noun phrase used to describe the ability to effectively apply knowledge and skills. According to Ludwig, the phrase is most frequently found in scientific and news-related contexts. While grammatically correct, avoid overuse in casual conversation, where simpler synonyms may be more appropriate. When discussing education, use the phrase to emphasize development of critical thinking. Consider alternatives like "cognitive ability" or "mental capacity" for similar but subtly different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intellectual capacity

Stresses the ability to acquire and apply knowledge.

cognitive ability

Focuses on the mental capabilities related to knowledge and reasoning.

mental capacity

Emphasizes the potential or ability of the mind.

intellectual skill

Emphasizes learned and practiced abilities related to intellect.

cognitive skill

Emphasizes learned and practiced abilities related to cognition.

cognitive proficiency

Highlights the skill and expertise in cognitive tasks.

mental acuity

Focuses on sharpness and quickness of thought.

reasoning ability

Focuses specifically on the capacity for logical thought.

cognitive expertise

Highlights specialized knowledge and skill in cognitive domains.

intellectual prowess

Highlights exceptional skill and ability in intellectual pursuits.

FAQs

How can I use "intellectual competence" in a sentence?

You can use "intellectual competence" to describe someone's ability to understand and apply knowledge effectively. For example, "The candidate demonstrated a high level of "intellectual competence" during the interview."

What are some alternatives to "intellectual competence"?

Alternatives include "cognitive ability", "mental capacity", or "reasoning ability", depending on the specific aspect you want to emphasize.

Is "intellectual competence" the same as "intelligence"?

"Intellectual competence" often refers to the practical application of intelligence, while "intelligence" is a broader term encompassing various cognitive abilities. The first term focuses on demonstrable skills.

In what contexts is "intellectual competence" most appropriately used?

It is best used in formal settings such as academic papers, professional evaluations, or when discussing educational outcomes. Simpler language may be more appropriate for informal contexts.