Meaning & use
levels of professionalism
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
the different degrees to which people show the standards and behavior expected in a job or profession.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase; it often follows words like high, low, or varying.
Patterns
- high levels of professionalism
- varying levels of professionalism
- levels of professionalism among someone
The report praised the high levels of professionalism shown by the nursing staff.
Managers noticed different levels of professionalism between the two offices.
Training can raise levels of professionalism across a whole company.
phrasefixed phrasebusiness
the stages or ranks by which an organization measures how professional its members are.
Grammar: Often used when talking about formal systems of grading or assessment.
Patterns
- assess levels of professionalism
- define levels of professionalism
- meet the required level of professionalism
The firm uses three levels of professionalism when reviewing new hires.
Clear levels of professionalism help employees know what is expected of them.
The union asked for the levels of professionalism to be explained in writing.
Common combinations
- high levels of professionalism
- Clients choose this lawyer because of her high levels of professionalism.
- maintain levels of professionalism
- Staff must maintain high levels of professionalism even under pressure.
- varying levels of professionalism
- The audit found varying levels of professionalism in the branches.
- raise levels of professionalism
- New rules were introduced to raise levels of professionalism in the industry.
- levels of professionalism among staff
- Surveys measure levels of professionalism among staff each year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- standards
- Broader and often about rules or quality, while levels of professionalism focuses on how professional people appear or behave.
- conduct
- Refers to how someone behaves, not to a graded amount of professionalism.
Opposites
Word family
- professional adjective
- showing the skill and behavior expected in a paid job
- professionalism noun
- the quality of being professional
- professionally adverb
- in a way that shows professional standards
Commonly confused: levels of professionalism or professionality?
levels of professionalism vs professionality
A rare and nonstandard word; use professionalism instead.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'High levels of professionalism' keeps the plural 'levels' and the noun 'professionalism'. Option 2 wrongly changes both words, option 3 uses the adverb 'highly' before a noun, and option 4 uses the adjective 'professional' where a noun is needed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “levels of professionalism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.