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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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level of proficient

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "level of proficient" is not correct in English; it should be "level of proficiency." You can use it when discussing someone's skill or competence in a particular area, such as language or job performance.
Example: "Her level of proficiency in Spanish allows her to communicate effectively with native speakers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Students entering the fifth grade here are often several years behind in both subjects, but last year, 100 percent of seventh graders scored at a level of proficient or advanced on state standardized math tests.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Complete your surf club's training Once you have passed your swimming proficiency test, your surf club will provide qualified instructors who will train you to the level of a proficient lifesaver they require.

Colorado even opted to use its "partially proficient" level of academic performance as "proficient" for reporting purposes.

News & Media

The New York Times

Consistent with the ability of YFP-β1 to cotranslocate in A549 cells, qRT-PCR showed that these cells contain significant levels of translocation proficient γ11, γ10 and γ5 subunits and only one non-translocating γ subunit, γ12 (Fig. S4).

Science

Plosone

The standards assist the RDN in nutrition support to distinguish his or her level of practice (competent, proficient, or expert) and would guide the RDN in creating a personal development plan to achieve increasing levels of knowledge, skill, and ability in nutrition support practice.

Providers are also required to remove students from the BPTC programme if it becomes apparent that the student is unable to demonstrate a proficient level of English".

News & Media

The Guardian

The State Legislature responded by reducing the level of achievement defined as proficient, and the next year the proportion of South Carolina schools missing targets dropped to 41 percent.

News & Media

The New York Times

It found, for example, that in elementary schools, about 79 percent of girls could read at a level deemed "proficient," compared with 72 percent of boys.

News & Media

The New York Times

Among children of parents with a low level of education, only 17% were proficient in maths, compared with 43% of children from well-educated families.

News & Media

BBC

In terms of mathematical formalism, any cellular system is maintained via a metastable state of a gene regulation network (GRN) that at the level of a single cell is proficient to restore the phenotypic heterogeneity of the whole system [72].

Science

Plosone

Increasing the percentage of proficient students to the levels attained in Canada and Korea would increase the annual U.S. growth rate by 0.9 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the grammatically correct phrase "level of proficiency" instead of "level of proficient". Remember that "proficient" is an adjective, while "proficiency" is a noun.

Common error

Avoid using adjectives where nouns are required. In the phrase, use the noun "proficiency" instead of the adjective "proficient" to maintain correct grammatical structure.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "level of proficient" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement. However, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form is "level of proficiency".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "level of proficient" aims to describe a degree of skill, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI points out that the correct phrase is "level of proficiency". It's a rare phrase, found across various contexts like news, science and wikis. Remember to use the noun "proficiency" instead of the adjective "proficient" for grammatical accuracy. Consider alternatives like "degree of proficiency" or "skill level" for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions(6)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proficiency level

Inverts the phrase to "proficiency level" which is grammatically correct and commonly used in educational and professional settings.

degree of proficiency

Uses "degree" instead of "level", emphasizing the extent of skill, and replaces "proficient" with "proficiency" to correct the grammar.

skill level

Simplifies the phrase to "skill level" focusing directly on the degree of skill possessed, omitting a direct synonym for the term "proficient".

level of competence

Substitutes "proficient" with "competence", focusing on the ability to perform a task effectively. This maintains the context while using a different but related noun.

extent of expertise

Replaces "level" with "extent" and "proficient" with "expertise", highlighting the breadth and depth of knowledge in a particular area. This is more formal and emphasizes specialized knowledge.

standard of skill

Shifts from a general "level" to a specific "standard", emphasizing a benchmark or expectation for skill attainment.

measure of ability

Focuses on the "ability" aspect, quantifying or assessing the capacity to perform a task. This moves away from subjective proficiency to a more measurable attribute.

grade of mastery

Replaces "level" with "grade" and "proficient" with "mastery", focusing on the level of control and understanding achieved in a particular skill or subject.

depth of knowledge

Highlights the "knowledge" component, emphasizing the profundity and comprehensiveness of understanding. This is particularly relevant in academic or technical contexts.

stage of development

Focuses on the progression and growth of skill over time, indicating a particular point in the learning or development process.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "level of proficient"?

The correct way to express this idea is "level of proficiency". Using "proficiency" (a noun) instead of "proficient" (an adjective) makes the sentence grammatically correct.

What does "level of proficiency" mean?

The phrase "level of proficiency" refers to the degree of skill or competence someone has in a particular area. It indicates how well someone can perform a specific task or activity.

Are there synonyms for "level of proficiency"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "degree of skill", "extent of expertise", or "standard of skill" to convey a similar meaning.

How can I improve my "level of proficiency" in a subject?

To improve your "level of proficiency" in a subject, focus on consistent practice, seek feedback from experts, and set specific, measurable goals. Regularly assess your progress and adjust your approach as needed.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: