very adept at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very adept at" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is highly skilled or proficient in a particular area or task. Example: "She is very adept at solving complex mathematical problems quickly and efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Gulls seem very adept at figuring things like that out".

The New York Times

Nor are the Japanese media very adept at doing so.

The Economist

But he's very adept at turning it around".

The Guardian - Sport

"La Familia is very adept at collecting taxes," one of the former governor's advisers told me.

The New Yorker

"They're very adept at what they do," said Ms. Brontzman, 67, of the copper gutter thieves.

The New York Times

"He's very adept at securing rights that have been historically hard to get," she said.

The New York Times

Rails, for example, seem very adept at reaching even such remote islands as Henderson and Lisianski.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Colaizzo is very adept at subverting our expectations of how this conflict will play out.

The New York Times

The competitions unfortunately proved not to be very adept at choosing great artists.

The New York Times - Arts

She imitates her absent mother, who was very adept at crafts.

The New York Times - Books

Mughal said: "Twitter is very adept at playing smoke and mirrors.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's specific skills, follow "very adept at" with a gerund (verb + -ing) to clearly indicate the activity they excel at. For example: "She is very adept at problem-solving".

Common error

Avoid using "very adept at" with abstract nouns that do not represent concrete actions or skills. Instead of saying "He is very adept at strategy", which is vague, specify the skill: "He is very adept at developing effective strategies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very adept at" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe someone's high level of skill or proficiency in a particular area. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment and examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very adept at" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone who possesses a high degree of skill or proficiency in a particular area. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from authoritative sources demonstrating its broad applicability. While generally neutral in register, its usage is particularly prevalent in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it's followed by a specific skill and avoid pairing it with abstract nouns. Remember to consider alternative expressions such as "highly skilled at" or "extremely proficient in" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly skilled at

Emphasizes skill level more directly, replacing "adept" with "skilled" and "very" with "highly".

extremely proficient in

Focuses on the level of proficiency, using "proficient" instead of "adept" and changing the preposition to "in".

particularly talented at

Highlights natural talent, substituting "adept" with "talented" and "very" with "particularly".

remarkably capable of

Stresses the ability to perform, replacing "adept" with "capable" and shifting the preposition to "of".

quite competent in

Emphasizes competence, using "competent" instead of "adept" and reducing the intensity modifier to "quite".

exceptionally good at

Uses a more general term, "good", and intensifies it with "exceptionally" instead of using "adept".

masterful at

Implies a high level of mastery, directly stating the individual's expertise.

expert in

Simplifies the phrase by directly stating expertise, omitting the modifier "very" and the preposition "at".

highly accomplished in

Focuses on accomplishments, replacing "adept" with "accomplished" and using "highly" as an intensifier.

supremely skilled in

Expresses the individual has a preeminent level of skill.

FAQs

How can I use "very adept at" in a sentence?

Use "very adept at" to describe someone who is highly skilled or proficient in a particular activity. For example: "She is "very adept at" quickly learning new software programs".

What are some alternatives to "very adept at"?

You can use alternatives like "highly skilled at", "extremely proficient in", or "particularly talented at" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "adept in" or "adept at"?

While both "adept in" and "adept at" are grammatically acceptable, "adept at" is more commonly used, especially when referring to specific skills or activities. Consider "He is "adept at" coding" versus "He is adept in the field of computer science".

What does "adept" actually mean?

"Adept" means very skilled or proficient at something. It implies a natural ability combined with practice or experience. For example, someone described as "adept" at negotiations is naturally good and experienced at negotiating.