not proficient in

USAGE SUMMARY

"not proficient in" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that someone is not proficient or skilled at doing or understanding. For example, "John is not proficient in math and struggles with his algebra class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Entrepreneurial-minded people are not proficient in managing themselves and their time.

Harvard Business Review

According to the complaint, more than 75% of students are not proficient in reading and math.

The Guardian

Nearly half of those said they were not proficient in English.

The New York Times

It's even more challenging for those who are not proficient in English.

Stanford University

Mrs. Kim, 41, a former intelligence officer, said: "What military professional is not proficient in planning?

The New York Times

Rather, they are geared for the students, mainly Dominican, many of whom are not proficient in English.

The New York Times

But the results show that almost 60percentt of eighth graders in the city are still not proficient in math.

The New York Times

And nearly a sixth of the students were not proficient in English, a reflection of rising immigration.

The New York Times

But for many patients, the options may be limited because their doctors are not proficient in the latest procedures.

The New York Times - Health

On the downside, for users not proficient in distributed technologies, programming for Grids is difficult, tedious, time-consuming and error-prone.

Advances in Engineering Software

But nontechnicians and people not proficient in abnormal psychology also respond to the pressure of another mind's struggle against its vulnerability.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow the adjective 'proficient' with the preposition 'in' when referring to a subject matter, language or field of study.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use 'at' or 'with' after proficient. While 'proficient at' is occasionally seen in informal contexts for specific activities, "not proficient in" remains the standard choice for academic subjects and languages.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not proficient in" acts as a negative adjective phrase that identifies a lack of expertise or skill. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to quantify performance levels in standardized testing, educational reports and demographic studies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not proficient in" is a robust and highly useful expression in the English language. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently employed in discussions regarding education, specifically concerning students' literacy or numeracy skills, and in public policy regarding language access. The phrase follows standard grammatical rules and is considered correct in all formal contexts. While synonyms like "not fluent in" or "unskilled at" exist, "not proficient in" remains the gold standard for objective reporting. Users should be confident using it in academic and professional writing to describe a gap in ability without sounding overly critical or informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfamiliar with

Suggests a lack of knowledge or exposure rather than just a lack of technical skill.

not fluent in

Specifically used for language abilities or high-level communication skills.

lacking skills in

More direct and slightly more informal when discussing specific vocational abilities.

inexperienced in

Focuses on the lack of practice or time spent in a specific field.

not adept at

Uses the preposition 'at' and implies a lack of natural talent or agility.

struggling with

Suggests an active difficulty in performing a task or understanding a concept.

not well-versed in

Implies a lack of thorough knowledge or deep understanding of a subject.

unskilled in

A very direct way to state a complete absence of specific training or ability.

ill-equipped for

Suggests that the person lacks the necessary tools or background for a task.

not competent in

Carries a stronger, more formal tone regarding official standards or requirements.

FAQs

Which is more common, "not proficient in" or "not proficient at"?

While both are used, "not proficient in" is the preferred standard for languages and academic subjects like math or science. If you are describing a specific physical task, you might use "not proficient at", but 'in' is more versatile and professional.

What is a professional way to say someone is "not proficient in" a skill?

In a business context, you could use phrases like "still developing skills in" or "requires further training in" to sound more constructive.

Can I use "not proficient in" for languages?

Yes, it is very common. However, if you want to be more specific about speaking and writing, you might choose "not fluent in" or "limited proficiency in".

What is the difference between "not proficient in" and "unfamiliar with"?

Being "not proficient in" suggests you have tried the skill but lack mastery, whereas being "unfamiliar with" suggests you have little to no knowledge of the subject at all.