Both sentences—"He is adept at writing" and "He is good at writing"—are natural, but they convey slightly different tones and levels of proficiency:
1. "He is adept at writing"
Meaning: Indicates a high degree of skill or proficiency, often implying a more nuanced, practiced expertise.
Tone: More formal and sophisticated. Commonly used in written language or in professional/academic contexts.
Example Contexts:
Describing someone's skill on a resume or in a formal assessment: "She is adept at managing complex projects."
Academic or literary analysis: "The author is adept at creating vivid characters."
2. "He is good at writing"
Meaning: Suggests general competence or above-average ability in writing.
Tone: More casual and conversational. It’s widely used in everyday speech and informal writing.
Example Contexts:
Talking about a friend’s skills: "John is really good at playing the piano."
In everyday conversation: "She’s good at explaining things."
Key Differences:
Formality: "Adept" is more formal, while "good" is informal.
Intensity: "Adept" implies a higher or more specialized level of skill compared to "good."
Synonym Variations:
"Excel at" implies outstanding performance: "He excels at writing essays."
"Be expert in" denotes deep, specialized knowledge: "She is an expert in medieval literature."
"Do well in" is broader and often used with subjects or tasks: "He does well in English class."
So, if you're aiming for a more formal tone or emphasizing a higher level of skill, "He is adept at writing" works well. In casual conversations, "He is good at writing" is perfectly fine.