Learn English – Is the phrase “collaborative skills” appropriate/correct in this context

adjectivesword-choice

If one were to suggest that they had

"…strong documentation, collaborative, and communication skills."

My first thought is that it's a bit more awkward than saying "…collaboration…skills".

It seems that collaborative is and adjective, and a misfit for that sentence. But is this an inappropriate usage of the word "collaborative"?

Best Answer

Your suspicions are right. Collaborative is an adjective, and in the phrase collaborative skills, it is describing the quality of the skills (in the vein of new skills, useful skills etc). Basically, you're saying your skills like to collaborate, whatever that might mean.

What you need is a compound noun. Go with collaboration skills.

The difference between collaborative skills (skills that are collaborative) and collaboration skills (skills of collaboration) can be compared to the difference between a fit instructor (instructor who is fit) and a fitness instructor(instructor of fitness)

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