keen ability

USAGE SUMMARY

"keen ability" is a correct and usable form of written English.
It is usually used to describe a person's unusually impressive or skillful abilities in a particular area. For example, "John demonstrated a keen ability for problem-solving, quickly coming up with clever solutions to difficult tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

General Writing

Professional Communication

Academic Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trust your already keen ability to predict violence".

The New York Times - Travel

The keen ability to sniff the urinary proteins is therefore quite innate, Dr. Stowers said.

The New York Times - Science

Running it is a job that requires a keen ability to navigate turf battles.

The New York Times

To his medical research, Salpeter brought his keen ability to make theoretical connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena.

Cornell University

Though Mr. Maltman's distinctive voice seems not quite fully formed, his keen ability to communicate was consistently impressive.

The New York Times - Arts

"She also developed a keen ability to edit pictures into narrative sequences and was deft with type," Ms. Ellis continued.

The New York Times

A modest man with an infectious grin, Salpeter possessed great intuitive powers and a keen ability to visualize abstract theoretical concepts.

Cornell University

Research on empathy has emphasized our keen ability to literally read others: By mirroring or subtly mimicking their facial expressions, we understand what they are experiencing.

University of California, Berkeley

Politics may have been a failed venture for Ms. Whitman, but it has given her a thick skin and a keen ability to address questions directly.

The New York Times

In Africa, early in human evolution, those with a keen ability to spot the creatures outlived their less wary counterparts, according to The Sunday Times.

Independent

His keen ability to render detail was often impractical for editorial illustration on tight deadlines, so to ease his workload he hired multiple assistants.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keen ability" to emphasize a particularly sharp, insightful, or effective skill. It's more impactful than simply saying 'good ability'.

Common error

Avoid using "keen ability" to describe everyday or basic skills. Reserve it for situations where the skill is genuinely impressive or critical to success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keen ability" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, attributing a notable skill or aptitude to the subject. Ludwig shows many examples where it highlights a specific talent or capability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keen ability" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe someone's exceptional skill or aptitude. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts but particularly effective in professional and academic settings. The phrase functions as a descriptive noun phrase, emphasizing a specific talent or capability. When using "keen ability", ensure it's reserved for skills that are genuinely impressive, avoiding overuse with mundane tasks. Alternatives include "sharp skill", "acute aptitude", and "remarkable talent", offering nuanced ways to express proficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sharp skill

Replaces 'ability' with 'skill' and 'keen' with 'sharp', both suggesting a high degree of competence.

acute aptitude

Substitutes 'ability' with 'aptitude', emphasizing natural talent, and 'keen' with 'acute', highlighting sharpness and perceptiveness.

remarkable talent

Replaces 'ability' with 'talent', indicating innate skill, and 'keen' with 'remarkable', stressing how notable the ability is.

exceptional proficiency

Uses 'proficiency' instead of 'ability' to denote a high level of competence, and 'exceptional' to intensify the degree of skill.

outstanding capability

Replaces 'ability' with 'capability', focusing on the potential to perform, and 'keen' with 'outstanding', emphasizing excellence.

considerable expertise

Swaps 'ability' for 'expertise', highlighting specialized knowledge, and 'keen' for 'considerable', indicating a significant amount of skill.

refined skill set

Changes 'ability' to 'skill set', focusing on a collection of skills, and 'keen' to 'refined', suggesting elegance and precision.

deft touch

This is an idiomatic substitution that implies a skillful or adept approach, replacing the more literal 'ability'.

natural flair

Replaces 'ability' with 'flair', suggesting an inborn talent, and removes 'keen' to simplify the expression.

masterful competence

Emphasizes a high level of skill and control. 'Competence' replaces 'ability', and 'masterful' replaces 'keen' to convey expertise.

FAQs

How can I use "keen ability" in a sentence?

Use "keen ability" to highlight someone's exceptional skill or aptitude in a specific area. For instance, 'Her "keen ability" to analyze complex data made her an invaluable asset to the team'.

What are some alternatives to "keen ability"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "sharp skill", "acute aptitude", or "remarkable talent".

Is "keen ability" formal or informal?

"Keen ability" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in professional or academic writing where precise language is valued.

Can "keen ability" be used to describe inanimate objects or systems?

While less common, "keen ability" can metaphorically describe the effectiveness of a system or tool. For example, 'The software's "keen ability" to detect anomalies made it a crucial component of the security system'.