personal ability

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal ability" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a skill or talent that a person has, such as "His personal ability to connect with an audience makes him an excellent public speaker."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

John Culver (Dem)., well above the House average in personal ability, has the potential to be an important leader.

The New York Times

This study explores the impact of the process of socialisation on pre-registration student nurses views about care, and their personal ability to cope with becoming a nurse.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

I can only speculate... with his tremendous personal ability, in a more controlled financial environment, or a more disciplined business structure, just how far he would have gone".

The Guardian

The personal ability of the voters aside, the flaws in the system are magnified many times over by those trying to manipulate it to their partisan advantage.

The New York Times

It was a heart-stopping, art-loving show that rewired and strengthened both the sense of Calder's greatness and one's own personal ability to see art.

The New York Times - Arts

Whatever body type you are, you can train so that you can perform to the best of your own personal ability.

Independent

Most Americans have little confidence in their personal ability to influence policy, but productive conversations are the first step to overcoming these feelings and moving towards action.

Yale University

I suspect this is less to do with his personal ability and confidence – which to me seem unquestionable – than the unsettled nature of the Conservative reinvention for which he is the frontman.

The Guardian - Opinion

For those who have yet to register a choice — including this page and 99percentt of Democratic primary voters — Mr. Obama has to show that he has the specific ideas and the personal ability to make good on that promise.

The New York Times

"I'm kind of surprised he did it, because more so than most presidents, this guy has a personal ability to assess the constitutional implications," Mr. Addington said, referring to Mr. Obama's experience as a teacher of constitutional law.

The New York Times

Mr Rubin spent two-and-a-half years taking care of economic policy in the Clinton White House before he became treasury secretary.Whatever his personal ability, Mr Paulson's effectiveness will ultimately be determined by the White House.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing someone's "personal ability", be specific about the context. Instead of a general statement, highlight a specific skill or area of competence. For example, "Her personal ability to analyze data quickly made her an invaluable asset to the team."

Common error

Avoid using "personal ability" in overly broad statements that lack specific detail. Saying someone has "great personal ability" without further clarification provides little meaningful information. Instead, focus on what specific skills or talents they possess.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal ability" functions as a noun phrase, where "personal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "ability". It describes a characteristic or attribute inherent to an individual. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples showcasing its usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal ability" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes an individual's skills or talents. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its wide acceptance and frequent use across various domains. While the phrase functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective, and its register is generally neutral leaning towards formal. To enhance clarity, it is best to pair it with specific examples of one's skills and talents and avoiding overly broad, unspecific statements. Several alternatives, such as "individual capability" or "personal competence", can be used to convey similar meanings while altering the specific emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individual capability

Replaces "ability" with "capability", emphasizing the inherent potential of a person.

personal competence

Substitutes "ability" with "competence", focusing on the demonstrated skill.

individual skill

Replaces "ability" with "skill", highlighting a learned proficiency.

personal aptitude

Uses "aptitude" instead of "ability", emphasizing a natural talent.

individual capacity

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", focusing on the potential to perform.

inherent talent

Focuses on the innate quality of the ability.

personal prowess

Replaces "ability" with "prowess", suggesting a high level of skill.

individual potential

Focuses on the unrealized capabilities of an individual.

personal effectiveness

Shifts the focus to the impact of the ability on achieving results.

innate skillfulness

Highlights the natural and refined aspect of the ability.

FAQs

How can I use "personal ability" in a sentence?

You can use "personal ability" to describe someone's skills or talents. For example, "His success is largely due to his "personal ability" to negotiate effectively".

What is a good synonym for "personal ability"?

Alternatives to "personal ability" include "individual capability", "personal competence", or "individual skill" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "personal ability" or "individual ability"?

Both "personal ability" and "individual ability" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. However, "personal ability" might subtly emphasize a more unique or inherent quality.

How does "personal ability" differ from "professional skill"?

"Personal ability" is a broader term that can encompass inherent talents and learned skills, while "professional skill" refers specifically to abilities acquired and applied in a work setting.