surpass abilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surpass abilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing exceeding or going beyond one's skills or capabilities. Example: "With hard work and dedication, she was able to surpass her abilities and achieve her goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Four axle vehicles with bogies can adapt the position of the wheels to follow irregularities in the terrain, having an obstacle surpassing ability far greater than conventional 2-axle vehicles.

Journal of Terramechanics

In both cases, the software advances now appear to surpass human abilities.

The New York Times - Science

Although man has developed war-machines that surpass the abilities of the human body, there is a perceived political and emotional strength in the human form.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

AI algorithms can sometimes match or surpass human abilities, but only within very narrow domains, such as image recognition or playing a particular game.

MIT Technology Review

Today, there is a similar collective fear, this time about a 'singularity' in which artificial intelligence (AI) and robots surpass human abilities.

Nature

AI and machine learning will quickly surpass our abilities on the first two capabilities and this will shift the skillset required for any worker wishing to stay in these careers as they are transformed by artificial intelligence.

Harvard Business Review

Sangay's proficiency and accuracy with the drill and wedge system quickly surpassed my abilities.

The New York Times

The singularity is the hypothetical event when a self-upgrading intelligent agent hits an intelligence explosion and surpasses human abilities.

University of California, Berkeley

A new study projects that in coming decades the effects of high humidity in many areas may surpass humans' ability to work or, in some cases, even survive.

Columbia University

The program aims to achieve and surpass the ability to calculate more than a quadrillion mathematical operations per second — a milestone known as a petaflop.

The New York Times - Tech

In his interview with The Straits Times, Dr Lee, who also teaches at Korea University's Graduate School of Energy and Environment, said his biggest fear is people refusing to change their attitudes and actions, which could result in "severe, persistent and irreversible impacts that will surpass our ability to adapt to them".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surpass abilities" when you want to emphasize a significant improvement or exceeding of one's current skill level. It's effective in contexts where demonstrating notable progress is key.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "surpass abilities" is a strong phrase. Reserve it for situations where the improvement or exceeding of skills is truly significant, not for minor enhancements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surpass abilities" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "surpass" is the verb and "abilities" is the direct object. It describes the action of exceeding or going beyond one's capabilities, as seen in Ludwig's examples. It's used to denote improvement or exceeding expectations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "surpass abilities" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe exceeding one's capabilities. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is appropriate for use in English. While versatile, it tends to appear in more neutral to formal contexts such as news, science, and academic writing. Alternatives include "exceed capabilities" or "outperform skills". When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants the emphasis on significant improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Exceed capabilities

This alternative focuses on exceeding a defined limit or capacity.

Go beyond capabilities

This alternative expresses exceeding the current level of capabilities.

Outperform skills

This alternative highlights performing better than the current level of skill.

Surpass competence

This alternative expresses exceeding the current level of competence.

Excel beyond skills

This denotes exceeding a particular level of abilities.

Transcend limitations

This suggests overcoming inherent limits, going beyond what was thought possible.

Rise above limitations

This emphasizes overcoming and exceeding personal restrictions.

Surmount expertise

This indicates surpassing a high level of proficiency or knowledge.

Outstrip competence

This alternative denotes exceeding a basic level of adequacy or skill.

Overtake proficiency

This means to catch up to, then move beyond, a level of skill.

FAQs

How can I use "surpass abilities" in a sentence?

You can use "surpass abilities" to describe someone exceeding their skills, for example: "With hard work, she managed to "surpass abilities" and achieve her goals."

What are some alternatives to "surpass abilities"?

Alternatives include "exceed capabilities", "outperform skills", or "transcend limitations" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "surpass abilities" or "exceed abilities"?

Both "surpass abilities" and "exceed abilities" are correct, but "surpass" often implies a greater degree of improvement or skill development.

What does it mean to "surpass abilities"?

To "surpass abilities" means to go beyond or exceed one's current level of skills, indicating notable progress or improvement.