Competence vs. expertise: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Competence indicates sufficient ability or skill, while expertise suggests a high level of skill or expert knowledge.
What they have in common
Both competence and expertise refer to the ability to perform tasks or understand subjects well.
Examples
competence
- She demonstrated competence in handling customer inquiries.
- Competence in programming is required for this position.
expertise
- His expertise in artificial intelligence is highly regarded.
- We hired her because of her expertise in financial analysis.
Which one is more common?

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