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Prepositions after adjectives

Skilled in or skilled at?

Both skilled in and skilled at are standard. Use skilled in for an area or field, and skilled at for an activity or task.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with skilled?

Skilled in usually refers to knowledge, fields, or areas of expertise. Skilled at usually refers to actions or activities. In many contexts, both are possible with a small difference in focus.

She is skilled in graphic design.
He is skilled at repairing old watches.
They are skilled in negotiation and sales.
My sister is skilled at solving complex puzzles.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
skilled in + field

Talking about expertise in a subject

Use skilled in with areas of knowledge, professions, or broad skills.

She is skilled in software engineering.
The lawyer is skilled in contract negotiation.
2
skilled at + activity

Talking about performance in an activity

Use skilled at with actions, tasks, games, or practical activities.

He is skilled at public speaking.
The child became skilled at drawing animals.
3
highly skilled in + area

Emphasising strong expertise

Highly skilled is common before in when describing professional expertise.

The team is highly skilled in data analysis.
4
skilled at + doing something

Using a verb after skilled at

Use a gerund after at.

She is skilled at managing large projects.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
skilled in
She is skilled in finance.
Expert in a field or area of knowledge.
skilled at
He is skilled at fixing engines.
Good at performing an activity or task.
skilled with
She is skilled with a camera.
Comfortable or effective when using a tool or object.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using an infinitive after skilled at

Use a gerund, not an infinitive, after skilled at.

✕ He is skilled at to negotiate. ✓ He is skilled at negotiating.

Choosing the wrong focus

In and at suggest slightly different meanings.

✕ She is skilled at marketing. ✓ She is skilled in marketing.

Missing a preposition

Skilled normally needs a preposition before the topic or activity.

✕ He is skilled computers. ✓ He is skilled with computers.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is skilled ___ project management.
2. He is skilled at ___ difficult customers.
3. The mechanic is skilled ___ repairing trucks.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use both skilled in and skilled at?

Yes. Both are standard, but in usually refers to a field and at usually refers to an activity.

Is skilled with correct?

Yes. Skilled with is used for tools, machines, or objects, such as skilled with computers.

Do native speakers strongly distinguish in and at?

Not always. In many situations both sound natural, but the focus may change slightly.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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