undertake skills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undertake skills" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may confuse readers, as "undertake" typically refers to taking on a task or responsibility rather than acquiring or developing skills. Example: "To succeed in this role, you must undertake skills that are essential for effective communication."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These were then were put into a series of broad questions (see below) encompassing their preparedness to undertake skills which are generic across all specialties such as communicating effectively and taking a history and examination.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The study tour was inspired by recent developments in health professional practice, which increasingly require nurses and other health care professionals to undertake the skills of history taking, inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation.

Nurse Education in Practice

In addition, community project officers (CPOs) were selected from collaborating health institutes and were responsible for field activities, the provision of technical and other advice, and undertook skills audits of CMC capacity to ensure they were equipped to manage the network.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

This study explored the experiences of those few rheumatology clinicians who had undertaken brief skills training.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It is a new model of care delivered by GPs who have undertaken advanced skills training (the ICDMS GP Clinical Fellows) with on-site specialist support from the endocrinologist and a multidisciplinary team.

BMC Health Services Research

Students who have mastered basic painting skills undertake sustained projects, including portrait and plein air landscape work.

Johns Hopkins University

This is particularly the case with registrars wishing to undertake Academic Extended Skills posts (an optional component of vocational GP training in Australia).

BMC Family Practice

But depending on the goals of the behavioral projects being undertaken, this skill set might not always be needed.

Harvard Business Review

Our overarching vision is that, ultimately, our homeless and formerly homeless guides will run and strategically shape the enterprise themselves, and we are currently undertaking intensive skill-building work to that effect.

The Guardian

to evaluate the effectiveness of a work-based module and in-service educational programme in perineal repair for midwives on their perceived level of competency undertaking this skill in clinical practice.

Midwifery

The variety of work that rural doctors undertake and the skill development that results is likely to interest females, allied health students and those from a city background, for example, as career factors are highly important to these students.

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "undertake skills", opt for clearer and more commonly accepted phrases like "acquire skills" or "develop skills" to ensure your writing is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "undertake" to directly modify "skills". "Undertake" typically refers to starting a task or project, not acquiring an ability. Instead, consider using "undertake training" to improve a skill.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undertake skills" functions as a verb + noun phrase, where "undertake" is intended to act as a verb modifying the noun "skills". However, as highlighted by Ludwig AI, this construction is not grammatically sound and is rarely used in standard English. Instead, alternative verb choices like “acquire”, “develop”, or “learn” are more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

27%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the individual words are valid, the phrase "undertake skills" is not grammatically correct in English. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is uncommon and potentially confusing. Instead of saying "undertake skills", it's much better to use phrases such as "acquire skills", "develop skills", or "gain skills". These alternatives will ensure clarity and improve the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquire skills

Focuses on the process of gaining new skills.

develop skills

Emphasizes the gradual improvement and refinement of skills.

gain skills

Similar to acquire, but with a slightly different connotation.

improve skills

Focuses on making skills better.

master skills

Highlights achieving a high level of proficiency in skills.

hone skills

Suggests refining and perfecting existing skills.

learn skills

Highlights the process of learning and understanding skills.

cultivate skills

Implies nurturing and fostering the growth of skills.

build skills

Emphasizes the creation and development of a skillset.

enhance skills

Suggests improving the quality or value of existing skills.

FAQs

What does it mean to "undertake" something?

To "undertake" something means to start or commit to doing it, often implying a task or project. It's not typically used to describe the acquisition of skills directly, which is why phrases like "acquire skills" or "develop skills" are more appropriate.

How can I use "undertake" correctly in a sentence related to skills?

Use "undertake" to describe starting a process that leads to skill development, such as "undertake training", "undertake a course", or "undertake a project". For example, "She will "undertake training" to enhance her programming skills".

Is "undertake skills" grammatically correct?

While the individual words are valid, the phrase "undertake skills" is not a standard or widely accepted construction in English. It's better to use alternatives like "acquire skills" or "develop skills".

What's the difference between "undertake training" and "acquire skills"?

"Undertake training" describes the action of participating in a training program or activity. "Acquire skills", on the other hand, describes the result of that action – gaining new skills or abilities. They are related but describe different aspects of the process.