severe skills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe skills" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe skills that are highly developed or advanced, but "severe" is not the appropriate word choice in this context. Example: "She possesses severe skills in graphic design, allowing her to create stunning visuals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We have a severe skills shortage, much of it met by EU nationals.

The Guardian - Opinion

The most important is that Indian-based companies themselves are encountering severe skills shortages.

The Economist

Labour might be cheap, but all those new employers will soon run into severe skills shortages.

The Economist

With such a severe skills deficit, we run the risk of repeating the misguided post-war social engineering that wreaked havoc throughout Britain.

The Guardian

Mark Hayward, the managing director of the NAEA, said: "An out vote could mean that in 10 years' time we'd find ourselves with a severe skills shortage of construction workers.

The Guardian

The REC chief executive, Kevin Green, said: "The prospect of EU workers leaving the UK at a time when employers are already facing severe skills shortages is particularly concerning because it's a risk we cannot afford.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The industry faces severe skill shortages, which have driven up wages, in particular for bricklayers.

The Guardian - Business

However, as an industry it suffers from severe skill and people shortages.

Independent

It has been hiring ex-military personnel to train as bricklayers and joiners amid severe skill shortages in the industry.

The Guardian - Business

Capacity utilisation is higher than at any time in the past decade and severe skill shortages have caused wages to rocket.The RBI is also concerned about a credit boom.

The Economist

Britain's biggest housebuilding firm has stepped up its recruitment of former military personnel as bricklayers and joiners and called on the rest of the industry to follow suit to combat severe skill shortages.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "severe skills", opt for more precise and widely accepted adjectives like "advanced", "exceptional", or "highly developed" to describe a high level of competence.

Common error

Avoid using "severe" to describe skills, as it typically implies harshness or intensity, not skill level. Misusing "severe" can confuse your audience and weaken your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe skills" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "severe" modifies the noun "skills". However, Ludwig AI points out that this combination is not standard English and doesn't effectively convey the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

7%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "severe skills" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI indicates that it is generally considered grammatically incorrect and not standard English. The intended meaning is to describe highly developed abilities, but "severe" is not the appropriate adjective. Instead, it's best to opt for more conventional alternatives like "advanced skills", "exceptional skills", or "highly developed skills". These alternatives ensure clarity and are more widely accepted in formal and professional writing. The phrase's uncommon frequency and questionable grammatical status suggest avoiding it in favor of more precise language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advanced skills

Replaces "severe" with a more conventional adjective to describe high-level abilities.

exceptional skills

Uses "exceptional" to emphasize the outstanding quality of the skills.

highly developed skills

Emphasizes the extent of skill development.

considerable expertise

Shifts from "skills" to "expertise", implying a deeper level of knowledge and ability.

remarkable abilities

Replaces "skills" with "abilities" and uses "remarkable" to denote impressiveness.

outstanding proficiency

Uses "proficiency" to highlight competence and replaces "severe" with "outstanding".

masterful command

Implies a high level of control and expertise over a particular skill set.

top-notch skills

Uses a more informal term to describe superior skills.

formidable skills

Highlights the impressive and potentially intimidating nature of the skills.

incomparable talent

Emphasizes the uniqueness and exceptional nature of the person's talent.

FAQs

What does "severe skills" mean?

The phrase "severe skills" isn't standard English. It might be intended to describe highly developed or advanced skills, but the adjective "severe" is not typically used in this context.

What can I say instead of "severe skills"?

You can use alternatives like "advanced skills", "exceptional skills", or "highly developed skills" to describe a high level of competence.

Is it correct to say someone has "severe skills"?

No, it is generally not considered correct. The word "severe" implies harshness or intensity, which doesn't align with the intended meaning of describing highly proficient abilities. It is better to use alternatives like "advanced" or "exceptional".

What is the difference between "severe skills" and "exceptional skills"?

"Severe skills" is not standard usage and may cause confusion. "Exceptional skills" is grammatically correct and clearly communicates a high level of proficiency.