skill about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'skill about' is not correct as it stands.
You could use the phrase 'learn about' or 'know about' to communicate the same idea: I learned a lot about computer programming in my classes this semester.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"There's no skill about it — you just get in the lane and go down.

The New York Times - Sports

"Everything that guy did was about skill, about playing the game right," Corbin said.

The New York Times - Sports

She has written with virtuosic skill about many other visual arts, but says "I've always avoided pots because pots are in my ancestry".

Independent

Still, I kept at it and through some combination of luck and skill (about an 80/20 ratio, respectively), produced this puzzle.

The New York Times

He writes with real subtlety and skill about the sonnets -- suggestive rather than certain about what they tell us of Shakespeare the man.

The New York Times - Books

"He wrote with great insight and skill about Langston Hughes, and appreciated his genius when many other academics didn't," Arnold Rampersad, a professor at Stanford who has written an acclaimed biography of Hughes, wrote in an e-mail.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Just try to make the skill level about equal.

WikiHow

She came in with her team and about four weeks later came back and said: "This isn't about skills or about process.

The New York Times

They aren't about skill but about how skill can serve intelligence and imagination.

The New Yorker

Being in the Twins organization means daily questions about Joe, about his amazing skills, about what he was like when.

The New York Times - Sports

Many have taken jobs that do not make use of their skills; about only half of recent college graduates said that their first job required a college degree.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more appropriate prepositions like "in" or "with" after "skill" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "skill in programming" instead of "skill about programming."

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "skill". This is not standard English. Instead, use "in" or "with" depending on the context. For instance, prefer "skill in communication" over "skill about communication."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skill about" functions as an incorrect prepositional phrase. It attempts to link a noun ("skill") with a related subject, but uses a non-standard and grammatically unsound construction. The examples provided by Ludwig show that this phrasing is not commonly accepted in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

20%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "skill about" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies this phrasing as non-standard. It's recommended to use more appropriate prepositions like "in" or "with" to connect "skill" with the relevant subject. This ensures clarity and correctness in your writing. Alternatives such as "expertise in" or "proficiency with" provide grammatically sound ways to express similar ideas, contributing to clearer and more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skill in

Uses a more standard preposition to connect the skill with the area of expertise.

skill with

Another common preposition used to denote proficiency or ability.

expertise in

Replaces "skill" with "expertise", indicating a higher level of competence.

proficiency in

Similar to "expertise", emphasizing competence and mastery.

knowledge of

Shifts focus to understanding and awareness rather than just ability.

competence in

Highlights the capability to perform tasks effectively.

aptitude for

Emphasizes a natural ability or talent for something.

talent for

Focuses on innate abilities rather than learned skills.

adept at

Indicates a high degree of skill and dexterity.

mastery of

Suggests a comprehensive understanding and control.

FAQs

How to correctly use "skill" with a preposition?

Use "skill in" to refer to a general area of expertise, and "skill with" to refer to specific tools or techniques. For example, "skill in negotiation" and "skill with data analysis software".

What prepositions can I use after "skill"?

The most common and grammatically correct prepositions to use after "skill" are "in" and "with". Avoid using "about" as it is generally considered incorrect. Use alternatives like "expertise in" or "proficiency in".

Is it grammatically correct to say "skill about"?

No, it's not grammatically correct to say "skill about". The correct usage involves prepositions like "in" or "with". Consider alternatives like "knowledge of" or "competence in" for similar meanings.

What are some alternatives to "skill about"?

Instead of "skill about", you can use phrases like "skill in", "skill with", "expertise in", or "proficiency with" depending on the intended meaning.