skilful technique

USAGE SUMMARY

"skilful technique" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone or something showing a high degree of skill, technique, or proficiency in a particular activity. For example: The painter had a skilful technique that allowed her to create beautiful landscapes with ease.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Anyone who admires Freud's work can appreciate the importance of his skilful technique and the impact of his powerful psychological approach to the individual human subject.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was just after Kenny Everett had died, and a homophobic joke drew me out of my enjoyment of his astonishingly skilful technique.

The Guardian

The effect of a resorbed, mobile maxillary ridge can be ameliorated by a careful impression technique.6 Similarly, in the mandible a skilful technique can provide a stable denture that can be soft-lined if discomfort cannot be eliminated.

Nature

Painted in charcoal and red ochre, or etched into the limestone, careful shading and skilful technique bring the animals to life, revealing movement and depth.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

According to the Cult Information Centre's pamphlet Cults: A Practical Guide, cult leaders routinely employ 26 skilful techniques to keep their followers under their spell.

The Guardian

However, approaches frequently required biopsy or surgical specimens, as well as skilful techniques (Lynch et al, 2004; Paez et al, 2004; Mitsudomi et al, 2005; Pao and Miller, 2005; Tokumo et al, 2005; Twombly, 2005).

British Journal of Cancer

It doesn't require a skilful knotting technique or niche styling trick, nor does it demand a supermodel waistline (or height), or a ridiculous amount of money.

The Times

The Healthcare Commission [ 5] (now known as the Care Quality Commission) recommended that women require information and support during the early postnatal period in order for them to 'bond with their baby, become skilful in techniques of feeding and grow in confidence as parents' (p9).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

What makes these creations so winning is their exuberance not skilful mastery of technique or sophisticated drawing.

The Economist

Skilful, tenacious and with fine technique, the stocky son of the legendary Abedi 'Pele' Ayew appears to have found the perfect fit in a league he has long coveted.

BBC

The obituarist for The Times highlighted Horne's "remarkably skilful but very personal comic technique" of playing "a friendly good-natured old buffer who was simply doing his best, apparently lost in wonder, at the glossier, more spectacular talents of those among whom he found himself".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's abilities, pair "skilful technique" with specific examples to illustrate their proficiency. For instance, "Her paintings demonstrate a "skilful technique" in capturing light and shadow."

Common error

Avoid using "skilful technique" as a generic compliment. Instead, focus on the specific aspects of the technique that make it skillful, providing concrete details rather than vague praise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skilful technique" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "skilful" modifies the noun "technique". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and indicates a high degree of skill, technique, or proficiency in a particular activity. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in diverse contexts.

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, "skilful technique" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a specific method executed with a high degree of proficiency. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across various domains. While not exceedingly common, its usage appears in news and scientific contexts. For alternative phrasing, options like "adept method" or "expert approach" can be considered to add variety or emphasize different aspects of the skill. Remember to use this phrase to highlight specific abilities rather than as a generic compliment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adept method

Replaces "skilful" with "adept", suggesting a high level of competence, and "technique" with "method", a more general term for procedure.

expert approach

Substitutes "skilful" with "expert", highlighting mastery, and "technique" with "approach", implying a way of dealing with something.

masterful execution

Replaces "skilful" with "masterful", emphasizing exceptional skill, and "technique" with "execution", focusing on the act of performing.

proficient manner

Uses "proficient" instead of "skilful", indicating competence, and "manner" instead of "technique", referring to a way of doing something.

capable procedure

Substitutes "skilful" with "capable", suggesting ability, and "technique" with "procedure", a specific way of doing something.

polished skill

Replaces "technique" with "skill", referring to a developed ability, and "skilful" with "polished" which speaks of an ability refined over time.

refined art

Here "skilful" is replaced with "refined" and "technique" with "art" suggesting a focus on the aesthetic or cultivated quality of the skill.

deft handling

Substitutes "skilful" with "deft", meaning nimble and quick, and "technique" with "handling", which implies a way of managing or dealing with something.

accomplished practice

Employs "accomplished" instead of "skilful", highlighting achievement, and "practice" instead of "technique", referring to repeated exercise of a skill.

seasoned expertise

Replaces "skilful" with "seasoned", implying experience, and "technique" with "expertise", focusing on specialized knowledge.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "skilful technique" in a sentence?

Use "skilful technique" to highlight a specific ability executed with expertise. For example, "The surgeon's "skilful technique" minimized scarring" or "The chef used a "skilful technique" to perfectly sear the scallops".

What are some alternatives to "skilful technique"?

Consider alternatives such as "adept method", "expert approach", or "masterful execution" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "skilful technique" formal or informal language?

"Skilful technique" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, though its use is more common in professional and technical discussions. The degree of formality often depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

When should I use "skilful technique" versus a simpler term like "skill"?

Use "skilful technique" when you want to emphasize not just the presence of skill, but also the specific method or approach used to achieve a result. "Skill" is a general attribute, while "skilful technique" highlights a particular, well-executed method.