strong point: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 (Upper Intermediate)Neutral to formal; common in professional, evaluative, and self-reflective contexts.
Quick answer
What does “strong point” mean?
A particular ability, quality, or skill at which someone or something excels.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A particular ability, quality, or skill at which someone or something excels; an area of proficiency or advantage.
A principle, belief, or characteristic feature that is central to an argument, strategy, or identity; a fortified or defended position in military context (archaic).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties. 'Strong suit' is a slightly more common synonym in American English.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in British English; often found in performance reviews and analytical writing.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English corpora, but not statistically significant.
Grammar
How to Use “strong point” in a Sentence
[Possessive] + strong point + [is/was] + [noun phrase/gerund]A strong point of + [noun phrase] + [is] + [complement]Make + [something] + a strong pointVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strong point” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- His strong point is his meticulous attention to detail, which is crucial for this role.
- A strong point of the proposal is its cost-effectiveness over five years.
American English
- Her strong point is definitely customer relations—she always gets great feedback.
- One strong point of the software is its incredibly intuitive user interface.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in performance appraisals, SWOT analysis, and team role assignments.
Academic
Used in critiquing theories, methodologies, or authors' arguments.
Everyday
Used in casual conversations about skills, hobbies, or personal qualities.
Technical
Used in engineering/design (e.g., 'The beam's strong point is its flexibility') and military strategy (archaic).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strong point”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strong point”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strong point”
- Using 'strong side' in English (though understood, 'strong point' is more idiomatic).
- Confusing with 'high point' (peak experience).
- Using non-count syntax: 'He has strong point in maths' (correct: '...a strong point...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Strong point' often implies a specific, distinct area of excellence among others, while 'strength' can be more general. 'Strength' is also more common as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'inner strength').
It can be used for both. For people, it refers to skills/qualities. For objects/systems/theories, it refers to advantageous features or reliable components.
It's grammatically possible but uncommon. Native speakers typically use modifiers like 'major', 'key', 'greatest', or 'particular' instead of 'very' with this phrase.
Use the plural when listing or referring to multiple areas of proficiency. E.g., 'During the interview, she outlined her three main strong points: leadership, coding, and project management.'
A particular ability, quality, or skill at which someone or something excels.
Strong point is usually neutral to formal; common in professional, evaluative, and self-reflective contexts. in register.
Strong point: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstrɒŋ ˈpɔɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstrɔːŋ ˈpɔɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Play to your strong points”
- “Know your strong points”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a castle wall: its STRONGEST POINT is where it's most fortified and hardest to break. Your 'strong point' is your mental or skill-based fortress.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITIES ARE PHYSICAL FEATURES (A strong point is a fortified location on a metaphorical landscape of abilities).
Practice
Quiz
In a professional SWOT analysis, 'strong points' are most closely aligned with which category?