strengthen command of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strengthen command of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the improvement or enhancement of one's authority or control over a particular subject or skill. Example: "To excel in this field, it is essential to strengthen command of the fundamental principles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

To create what the official called "political space" for Mr. Abbas to build up his popularity and strengthen his command of his forces, American officials say the United States must quietly continue to urge Israel to improve Palestinian conditions and meet other Palestinian requests.

The New York Times

For the more advanced student of Irish, this course focuses on improving conversational fluency and on expanding vocabulary through reading complex literature in Irish, and writing in the Irish language, further encouraging students to strengthen their pronunciation and command of spoken Irish.

Columbia University

French acknowledges that, "God commands nations to strengthen the hand of the poor".

Huffington Post

The Army of Switzerland and portions of the Army of the Danube merged in a joint command under Andre Massena in April 1799; in June, portions of the Army of the Danube were used to strengthen the Army of the Rhine.

Wikipedia

On his return he was made constable of France in 1218, an office he strengthened by adding to its duties the command of the army.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He said that when Trump used the word hope, he understood that to be a command of some sort, and that strengthens the case for obstruction.

BBC

In Porphyrogenitus's narration, the Khazar khagan initiated the centralization of the command of the Hungarian tribes in order to strengthen his own suzerainty over them.

Wikipedia

A Royalist garrison was put in place in the town, under the command of Sir Michael Woodhouse, and the defences were strengthened, with artillery being brought from nearby Bringwood Forge for the castle.

Wikipedia

strengthen the governance of ELSTAT.

BBC

Our reforms strengthen the hand of councils".

Vice

Strengthen your art of conversation.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strengthen command of", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject or skill being improved. For example, "strengthen command of the English language" provides specific clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "strengthen command of" without specifying what needs strengthening. Saying "he needs to strengthen his command" is vague; instead, specify what command he needs to strengthen such as "he needs to strengthen his command of project management principles".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strengthen command of" functions as a verb phrase, with 'strengthen' acting as the main verb and 'command of' functioning as a noun phrase indicating what is being improved. The Ludwig AI confirms it's correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

15%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strengthen command of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the process of improving one's expertise, control, or ability in a particular area. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to academia, though more prevalent in neutral to formal registers. While alternatives like "enhance mastery of" and "improve control over" exist, the key is to ensure clarity by specifying what the command is being strengthened over. Although examples are rare, it's important to avoid vague use and to provide a specific subject for the command being strengthened.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enhance mastery of

Emphasizes achieving a high level of skill or expertise.

improve control over

Highlights gaining better regulation or governance.

reinforce understanding of

Focuses on solidifying one's comprehension of a subject.

bolster expertise in

Suggests actively increasing one's skill and knowledge.

sharpen proficiency in

Implies refining and improving existing skills.

develop greater authority over

Focuses on increasing influence and control.

refine skill in

Implies making small, precise improvements to existing ability.

deepen knowledge of

Suggests gaining a more thorough and profound understanding.

advance competence in

Highlights moving forward and becoming more capable.

build up expertise in

Suggests gradual accumulation of knowledge and skill.

FAQs

How can I use "strengthen command of" in a sentence?

You can use "strengthen command of" when referring to improving someone's ability or expertise in a particular area. For example, "The course is designed to help students "strengthen command of" statistical analysis".

What are some alternatives to "strengthen command of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "enhance mastery of", "improve control over", or "reinforce understanding of", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "strengthen command on" instead of "strengthen command of"?

The correct preposition to use is "of". Therefore, "strengthen command of" is the appropriate phrase. "Strengthen command on" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What does it mean to "strengthen command of" something?

To ""strengthen command of"" something means to improve your ability to control, understand, or manage it more effectively. It implies enhancing your expertise and proficiency.