I understand that communication skills is more appropriate. But, i have this doubt-
Why is the word communication (which is noun) used in 'communication skills', while in 'interpersonal skills' the word 'interpersonal' is used (which is adjective)?
Learn English – ‘Communication skill’. Why not ‘communicational’ skills
adjectivesnounsword-usage
Best Answer
This is very common with the word "skills": math skills, football skills, cooking skills, management skills. Phrases of the form " skills" are interpreted as meaning "skills in ".
This is convenient because there isn't always an adjective that can take the place of the noun. While we can say "mathematical skills", "culinary skills", and "managerial skills", there isn't a common adjective for "football".
And as Edwin Ashworth said in a comment, this is just a particular case of a general ability to use nouns as modifiers.