required the ability to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "required the ability to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a necessary skill or capability needed to perform a task or job. Example: "The position required the ability to communicate effectively with clients and team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

No, Lafai is more like - indeed he's a lot like - former Kiwis centre man Kevin Iro: straight-running; evasion if required; the ability to flick on a face ball to set a wing man free.

The Guardian - Sport

Acuff, who at 37 will be competing in her fifth Olympics, also noted that motherhood required the ability to multitask and that this had helped her mental approach to an event incorporating acrobatic movement of several different body parts at once.

The New York Times

Pre inclusion required the ability to read and write French.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Additionally, participants who were incarcerated during the interview were excluded because the outcomes for this analysis required the ability to have physical contact with an intimate partner.

Injury Epidemiology

One finding was that acquiring a word for "five" often tipped a language into accumulating words for even higher numbers, a change that may have reflected new trade relations that required the ability to count higher.

Science Magazine

The method was developed within the framework of research toward a lean approach to safety management in construction, which required the ability to predict fluctuating safety risk levels in order to support safety conscious planning and pulling of safety management efforts to the places and times where they are most effective.

Safety Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Full engagement requires the ability to perceive both.

The Guardian - Books

It requires the ability to tell a story, not fiction.

The New York Times

It also requires the ability to maneuver at high speed.

The New York Times - Sports

Third, it does require the ability to count.

The New York Times

That would require the ability to at least answer the phone.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "required the ability to", ensure that the sentence clearly specifies what skill or capability was necessary for a particular task or role. Avoid ambiguity by providing a concrete example or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "required the ability to" in overly broad statements that lack specific context. Instead of saying "The job required the ability to communicate", specify "The job required the ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "required the ability to" functions as a verb phrase indicating necessity or prerequisite. It connects a subject (e.g., a job, a task) with a necessary skill or capacity. As Ludwig AI clarifies, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "required the ability to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for specifying necessary skills or capabilities, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's commonly found in scientific, news, and business contexts. While alternatives like "necessitated the capacity for" exist, the key is to provide clear and specific context when using this phrase. Avoid overly broad statements and ensure the sentence clearly articulates the necessary skill. The phrase's versatility makes it a valuable asset in professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

necessitated the capacity for

Replaces 'required' with 'necessitated' and 'ability' with 'capacity', indicating a strong need.

entailed possessing the proficiency to

Replaces 'required' with 'entailed' and 'ability' with 'proficiency', focusing on demonstrated competence.

demanded the skill of

Substitutes 'required' with 'demanded' and 'ability' with 'skill', emphasizing a specific expertise.

necessitated having competence in

Substitutes 'required' with 'necessitated' and reframes 'ability' as 'competence', emphasizing practical skill.

called for the aptitude to

Uses 'called for' instead of 'required' and 'aptitude' instead of 'ability', highlighting a natural talent or inclination.

stipulated the know-how to

Uses 'stipulated' and 'know-how' to denote a condition involving practical knowledge and skill.

made it essential to possess

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the essential nature of possessing a certain capability.

was contingent on having the talent for

Indicates that something was dependent on possessing a particular talent.

depended on the potential to

Highlights the dependency on having the 'potential', changing the meaning to what could be done in the future.

was predicated on the wherewithal to

Uses 'predicated' and 'wherewithal' to denote a fundamental basis involving resources and capabilities.

FAQs

How can I use "required the ability to" in a sentence?

You can use "required the ability to" to describe a prerequisite skill or capacity for a specific task or role. For example: "The project "required the ability to" analyze large datasets".

What are some alternatives to "required the ability to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "necessitated the capacity for", "demanded the skill of", or "called for the aptitude to". Each carries a slightly different nuance but conveys a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "required the ability to" or "required the skill to"?

Both "required the ability to" and "required the skill to" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey. "Ability" is generally broader, while "skill" implies a learned proficiency.

What's the difference between "required the ability to" and "required to"?

"Required to" indicates an obligation or necessity to perform an action, while "required the ability to" specifies that a certain capability is needed. For example, "Employees are required to attend the training" versus "The job "required the ability to" multitask effectively".