natural ability for

USAGE SUMMARY

"natural ability for" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone's aptitude for a certain activity or skill. For example, "He had a natural ability for math, which helped him excel in his college classes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Mr. Askegard discovered that he had a natural ability for more contemporary work.

The New York Times

"I love to do it, and I have a natural ability for it".

The New York Times

It confirms that this wild-type strain has no natural ability for ammonium excretion under diazotrophic conditions.

Biochemical Engineering Journal

Also, any student deemed to have a natural ability for car-park drinking will be given the opportunity to move up to unbranded, supermarket vodka.

Independent

Producers at USA Network put him on the air for some guest appearances when he was still playing, and recognizing his natural ability for contextualizing the game, they signed him up immediately.

The New York Times - Magazine

Though he had two unsuccessful semesters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1867 68), he found a natural ability for sculpture and studied clay modeling with artist and fellow Concord resident Abigail May Alcott (of the famous Alcott family).

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Understanding and reverse-engineering components of this process is essential for our ability to restore loss of muscle mass and function in cases where the natural ability of muscle for self-repair is exhausted or impaired.

Duke University

This natural ability of anaerobic bacteria for tumor colonization has encouraged research aimed to engineer the expression of therapeutic proteins within the tumor (e.g., cytotoxins, pro-drug converting enzymes) as well as gene reporters for in vivo tumor diagnosis (e.g., bioluminescence, magnetic resonance imaging).

ACS Synthetic Biology

"If it wasn't for the natural ability of bacteria to eat oil we would all be knee-deep in the stuff," says bioremediation expert Ken Lee of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Science Magazine

The natural ability of dauer larvae to live for several months offers a convenient option for short-term storage.

eLife

A remarkable aspect of our declarative and fixpoint semantics is the fact that both have been enriched with the use of thresholds thanks to the natural ability of the underlying fuzzy language for managing such constructs.

Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's strengths, use "natural ability for" to highlight their innate skills, rather than acquired skills. For example: "She showed a "natural ability for" leadership from a young age."

Common error

Avoid attributing success solely to "natural ability for" something without acknowledging the role of hard work and dedication. Overemphasizing innate talent can diminish the importance of effort and practice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "natural ability for" functions as a descriptor, highlighting an innate talent or aptitude possessed by an individual. It modifies a noun, indicating a pre-existing capacity rather than a learned skill. As Ludwig AI points out, it correctly portrays someone's aptitude.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "natural ability for" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an inherent talent or aptitude. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. While the phrase is versatile and appears across various contexts, it's essential to acknowledge the role of effort and practice, not just innate skills, to foster a growth mindset. Alternatives include "innate talent for" and "inherent aptitude for". The phrase sees frequent usage in News & Media, Science, and Wiki, though it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

natural aptitude for

Swaps "ability" for "aptitude", focusing on the inherent suitability for something.

innate talent for

Replaces "natural ability" with "innate talent", emphasizing the inborn quality of the skill.

inherent aptitude for

Substitutes "natural ability" with "inherent aptitude", highlighting a built-in capacity.

inborn gift for

Replaces "natural ability" with "inborn gift", suggesting a special, God-given talent.

natural gift for

Similar to "inborn gift", emphasizing the inherent and special quality of the talent.

talent for

A more concise way of expressing natural skill or aptitude.

predisposition for

Emphasizes a pre-existing inclination or tendency towards something.

flair for

Indicates a stylish and distinctive natural talent.

knack for

A more informal substitute, indicating an easy and clever way of doing something.

inclination for

Suggests a natural leaning or preference towards something.

FAQs

How can I use "natural ability for" in a sentence?

You can use "natural ability for" to describe someone's inherent talent or aptitude in a particular area. For example: "He has a "natural ability for" music", or "She demonstrated a "natural ability for" problem-solving".

What are some alternatives to "natural ability for"?

Alternatives include "innate talent for", "inherent aptitude for", or "talent for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to praise someone's "natural ability for" something or their effort?

While acknowledging "natural ability for" something can be encouraging, it's generally more beneficial to praise effort and dedication. This fosters a growth mindset and encourages continued learning and improvement.

What's the difference between "natural ability for" and "acquired skill in"?

"Natural ability for" refers to an inherent talent or aptitude, while "acquired skill in" implies a competence developed through learning and practice. Someone might have a "natural ability for" languages, but develop acquired skills in programming through study.