Skill, Not Talent

Talent is natural aptitude.

Skill is hard-earned knowledge and experience.

Calling a person talented implies that they were born with the abilities they currently have. Talent is raw, untrained ability.

Calling a person skilled shows respect for the hard work it took to develop their abilities. Skill is honed, well-practiced ability.

It is a much greater compliment to call someone skilled than to call them “talented”.