less competency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less competency" is not correct in standard English; the correct term is "less competence." You can use "less competence" when discussing a lower level of skill or ability in a particular area compared to others.
Example: "The team showed less competence in handling the project than expected, leading to several delays."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Camblong refers to what the platform does as a "democratization" of DNA sequencing expertise, asserting: "So that the next hospital that starts using your technology will enter at a level where it will require less competencies, less experience to be able to diagnose patients through the use of genomic information".

TechCrunch

These cards are presented to a child in pairs, with one picture demonstrating task competency and the other demonstrating less competence.

BMC Public Health

Special education students are not required to pass the Regents exam to graduate; they may take a less stringent competency exam.

The New York Times

Several studies have shown that youths with social anxiety disorder have less social competencies than healthy controls.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Those with medical degrees were observed to consistently assess themselves as possessing significantly less bioterrorism competencies than nurses.

Emerging Health Threats Journal

But most students, including just about all the minorities, took "local" courses that led to the far less demanding Regents Competency Tests.

The New York Times

While over 70% of respondent residency programs offer elective opportunities in global health, a third or less have formal competency evaluation for residents prior to participating (20%) and a formalized pre-departure training process (36.7%).

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

A significant number (34/94 or 36.2percentnt) achieved a score less than minimum competency level of 50%.

BMC Health Services Research

As more time is allocated to the development of competencies, less time will be devoted to other curricular activities.

BMC Medical Education

However, looking at discussion with either patient or family, we did see an independent effect of education, hinting toward more communication, better competencies, less "distance of power" and less paternalism in the higher educated [ 24- 28, 38].

BMC Public Health

This behavior might be due to the deep fragmentation of the German heath care system, which causes a lack of interprofessional collaborations due to strictly differentiated activity profiles and less standardized shared competencies among healthcare professions.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "competence" instead of "competency" when referring to a general state of being capable. "Competency" is more appropriate when referring to specific, measurable skills.

Common error

Avoid using "competency" when you mean "competence". "Competence" refers to the general ability to do something well, while "competency" refers to specific skills or standards that must be met.

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating a lower degree of skill or ability. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase "less competency" is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less competency" might seem intuitive, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. The correct term is "less competence". Use "less competence" or alternatives like ""reduced proficiency"" or ""decreased capability"" to describe a lower level of skill or ability. Remember that "competence" refers to a general ability, while "competency" relates to specific, measurable skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower competence

Replaces "less competency" with the grammatically correct term "competence".

reduced proficiency

Uses synonyms to indicate a decrease in skill level.

decreased capability

Emphasizes a diminished capacity to perform.

diminished skill

Focuses on the reduction of a specific skill.

lack of expertise

Highlights the absence of specialized knowledge.

inadequate ability

Stresses the insufficiency of one's skill.

limited skill set

Indicates a restricted range of skills.

deficiency in skill

Points out a specific area where skill is lacking.

subpar performance

Focuses on performance that is below the expected standard.

underdeveloped skill

Suggests that the skill is not fully formed or refined.

FAQs

What is the correct term, "less competency" or "less competence"?

The correct term is "less competence". "Competence" refers to the general ability to do something well. The word competency can refer to specific demonstrable or measurable skill/ability.

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

You can use "less competence" to describe a lower level of ability in a particular area. For example, "The team showed "lower competence" in project management than expected".

What are some alternatives to saying "less competency"?

Alternatives include "reduced proficiency", "decreased capability", or "lack of expertise", depending on the specific context.

Is "competency" ever the right word to use instead of "competence"?

"Competency" is generally used to refer to specific, measurable skills or abilities, often in a professional context. Competency is used when there are defined skill sets associated with a particular job or role. For example, "demonstrated competencies".