skillful

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "skillful" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is done with a high level of proficiency or expertise. For example, "The chef's knife skills were highly skillful; he cut the vegetables into perfect cubes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He found that it took a relatively small number of hands for skillful players to start winning more consistently than less skilled ones.

The Economist

They argue that perception is a kind of skillful activity which essentially involves the deployment of sensorimotor skills in exploring the environment.

SEP

"Given this natural aversion to human waste, it takes rigorous research, careful implementation and skillful social marketing to overcome the 'yuck' factor," says Kramer.

The Guardian

It will probably require us to hire more experienced and skillful people.

The Guardian - Business

But charismatic leadership is not essential to populism: Le Pen is a skillful politician, but she's no de Gaulle; Umberto Bossi is no Mussolini.

The Guardian - Opinion

Germany has a bigger population than England but not by enough of a margin to explain its crushingly superior record of tournaments won and finals reached.The reason for England's under-achievement is that it lacks the grassroots infrastructure to develop skillful young players.

The Economist

And Germany's excellent youth academies are churning out skillful players, meaning clubs do not have to spend millions in the transfer market in their pursuit of glory.

The Economist

In fact, however, umpires are human, and Mr Fast shows they can be duped by skillful catchers far more than most fans would ever have thought possible.The study's methodology is straightforward: it simply compares the ratio of balls to called strikes when pitchers throw to a given catcher to those same pitchers' ratios with other catchers.

The Economist

All of them, meanwhile, will soon have to figure out how to respond to the increasingly eloquent, skillful and confident needling of the Alternative for Germany.

The Economist

He was capable, skillful, and popular.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An actor must be skillful and an audience must be imaginative if Macbeth, seeing a phantom dagger in the air, or Othello, falling down in an epileptic seizure, is to be moving and impressive instead of merely ludicrous.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "skillful" when emphasizing the finesse and precision involved in a particular action or creation.

Common error

While "skillful" and "skilled" are similar, "skilled" is often preferred as a more direct adjective. Use "skilled" when referring to someone possessing a skill, and reserve "skillful" for describing the manner in which something is done or the quality of being skillful.

Linguistic Context

The word "skillful" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe someone or something possessing a high degree of competence or expertise. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness for such usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

27%

News & Media

25%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skillful" is an adjective denoting competence and expertise, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in Encyclopedias, News & Media, and Science, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. Alternatives include "adept", "proficient", and "expert". Best practices involve using "skillful" to emphasize precision, while avoiding overuse in place of "skilled". This analysis offers practical guidance for effectively incorporating "skillful" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adept

Implies a natural talent or acquired proficiency.

proficient

Suggests competence and mastery in a particular skill or area.

expert

Indicates a high level of knowledge or skill.

talented

Emphasizes a natural aptitude or gift.

competent

Suggests being adequately qualified or capable.

capable

Highlights the ability to do something well.

accomplished

Indicates having achieved a high level of skill or expertise.

masterful

Implies exceptional skill and control.

dexterous

Suggests skill and grace in physical movement, especially with the hands.

adroit

Implies cleverness and resourcefulness in handling situations.

FAQs

How can I use "skillful" in a sentence?

You can use "skillful" to describe someone who possesses or demonstrates great skill. For example, "She is a "skillful surgeon"" or "He showed "skillful negotiation" during the business deal".

What's the difference between "skillful" and "skilled"?

"Skillful" describes the manner or quality of being skilled, while "skilled" describes someone who possesses a skill. A person is skilled; their actions are skillful. For example, a "skilled artisan" produces skillful work.

What are some synonyms for "skillful"?

Alternatives to "skillful" include "adept", "proficient", "expert", and "competent". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "skillful" in formal writing?

Yes, "skillful" is generally appropriate for formal writing. It conveys a sense of expertise and competence, making it suitable for professional, academic, and news-related contexts.