over skilful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over skilful" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It could be used in contexts where one wants to describe someone as excessively skilled, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "His over skilful approach to the project made it difficult for others to contribute."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I think Joshua's got his name on the medal - he's destined to win that medal the way things have gone with him," Price added, with Joshua's narrow round-of-16 triumph over skilful Cuban Erislandy Savon in mind.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Already leading the chase for the Golden Boot, Klose's fourth goal of the tournament was a calm finish from Ballack's skilful flick over the Ecuador defence.

The Guardian - Sport

Enabling patients to express their preferences and to ultimately achieve them is a complex process that demands a compassionate and skilful approach over time to allow preferences to be determined "in the moment".

British Medical Journal

Skilfulness: I quickly became skilful with TALOE web tool.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Two goals for Rooney, plus the opener from Steven Gerrard, and a win over the kind of side that were skilful enough to have embarrassed a more nervous England team.

Independent

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was a skilful manager of his awkward country after he took over as effective regent in 1995, when King Fahd was disabled by a stroke.

The Guardian - Opinion

Jan was able to control the arm after the second day of training and over a period of 14 weeks became increasing skilful.

BBC

Beijing's reputation as skilful and competent economic managers – built up over years of breakneck economic growth – is in tatters after a two-month long stock market rescue operation has faltered.

The Guardian - Business

Although it is possible that the more confident and skilful practitioners were also more likely to provide recordings and hence over-estimate the training effect, evidence of such an effect is still provided.

British Medical Journal

It is unlikely to be an accident, for instance, that Blair and Cameron, skilful political players both, each came to grief over matters to do with foreign affairs.

The Guardian - Opinion

In an age when the microchip was both increasingly ubiquitous yet still little understood, they worried over the dangers to their privacy from prying officials and skilful hackers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "over skilful" in formal writing. Opt for more standard alternatives like "excessively skilled" or "highly skilled" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

The prefix "over-" typically modifies verbs or nouns, not adjectives. Using "over skilful" incorrectly applies this prefix to the adjective "skilful", creating a non-standard and potentially confusing construction. Use "excessively skilled" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over skilful" functions as an adjective phrase intended to describe someone's ability. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's not a standard or widely accepted construction in English. It attempts to modify the adjective "skilful" with the prefix "over-", which is not grammatically conventional.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over skilful" is a non-standard construction in English and is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that it's better to use alternatives such as "excessively skilled" or "highly skilled" to express the intended meaning of possessing an excessive degree of skill. While examples exist in contexts like News & Media and Science, it's advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing and opt for more conventional alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively skilled

Replaces "over skilful" with a more common and grammatically sound construction using "excessively".

overly skilled

Similar to "excessively skilled", but using "overly" instead, which is also more standard than "over skilful".

too skilled

A simpler way to express the idea of someone being excessively skilled.

highly skilled

Focuses on the high level of skill, without necessarily implying it's excessive, but can be used in contexts where excess is implied.

extremely competent

Replaces "skilful" with "competent", offering a slightly different nuance but similar meaning.

masterful

Implies a high degree of skill and control, often suggesting excellence.

adept

A concise way to describe someone who is very skilled.

proficient

Indicates a high level of competence and skill in a particular area.

accomplished

Highlights the achievements resulting from the person's skill.

expert

Denotes someone with specialized knowledge and skill.

FAQs

Is "over skilful" grammatically correct?

The phrase "over skilful" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "excessively skilled" or "highly skilled".

What are some alternatives to "over skilful"?

Instead of "over skilful", you can use phrases such as "excessively skilled", "overly skilled", or simply "too skilled".

When can I use "over skilful"?

While technically understandable, "over skilful" is not recommended for formal writing. It might be used informally, but more standard alternatives are preferable. For instance, "He was "too skilled" for the task" conveys the idea more effectively.

What's the difference between "over skilful" and "highly skilled"?

"Highly skilled" describes a high level of competence, while "over skilful" (though non-standard) would imply that someone's skill level is excessive or perhaps inappropriately applied. Use "highly skilled" for general praise of skill.