ability to vs ability of

Both "ability to" and "ability of" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Ability to" indicates the capacity or skill to do something, while "ability of" describes the quality or characteristic of having a particular skill or capacity.

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Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 17, 2025 • 6306 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"ability to "

Use "ability to" when referring to the capacity or skill to do something. It indicates the capability or potential to perform a specific action.

Examples:

She has the ability to speak multiple languages.
His ability to solve complex problems is impressive.
The team demonstrated their ability to work under pressure.
The key to success is having the ability to adapt to change.
The ability to learn quickly is a valuable asset.

Alternatives:

capacity to
skill to
potential to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"ability of "

Use "ability of" when describing the quality or characteristic of having a particular skill or capacity. It emphasizes the possession or attribute of a specific ability.

Examples:

The ability of the team to innovate sets them apart.
The ability of the students to grasp complex concepts is remarkable.
The ability of the company to adapt to market changes is crucial.
The ability of the human brain to learn new things is astounding.
The ability of the artist to evoke emotions through their work is exceptional.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 26, 2024

Abstract. Objective: To assess the predictive ability of a universal predischarge serum bilirubin measurement to screen for risk of subsequent significant ...
Jul 15, 1996 ... A simple, automated test measuring the ferric reducing ability of plasma, the FRAP assay, is presented as a novel method for assessing “antioxidant power.”
The comparative ability of eight functional mobility tests for predicting falls in community-dwelling older people. Age Ageing. 2008 Jul;37(4):430-5. doi ...
Mar 5, 2024 ... Strengthening the Ability of Consumers To Stop Robocalls. A Rule by the Federal Communications Commission on 03/05/2024.
Ability of Noninvasive Scoring Systems to Identify Individuals in the Population at Risk for Severe Liver Disease. Gastroenterology. 2020 Jan;158(1):200-214 ...
Apr 10, 2009 ... What is the difference between ability to do sth and ability of doing sth? when dou you use each of the forms? Thanks in advance!
6 days ago ... The ability of this numerical method to consider non-isotropic initial data represents a decided advantage over other approaches. From the ...
Increase the ability of primary care and behavioral health professionals to provide more high-quality care to patients who need it — AHS‑R01. HP2030 logo.
Oct 9, 2023 ... Abstract page for arXiv paper 2310.05845: GraphLLM: Boosting Graph Reasoning Ability of Large Language Model.
In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future ...

Alternatives:

capacity of
skill of
potential of

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ability to vs ability of

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