learning curve

Meaning

A learning curve represents the rate of a person's progress in gaining new skills or experience. In business, people often refer to a 'steep learning curve,' which colloquially means something is difficult to learn quickly, requiring a lot of effort upfront. The tone is neutral, pragmatic, and highly common in performance reviews, onboarding, and project planning.

Examples

• There's a steep learning curve with this new ERP software, so expect some initial delays.

  There's a steep learning curve with this new ERP software, so expect some initial delays.

• Joining a fast-growing startup was a massive learning curve for me, but I adapted quickly.

  Joining a fast-growing startup was a massive learning curve for me, but I adapted quickly.

• We need to shorten the learning curve for new hires by improving our onboarding documentation.

  We need to shorten the learning curve for new hires by improving our onboarding documentation.

• Although the initial learning curve was tough, the team is now highly proficient with the tool.

  Although the initial learning curve was tough, the team is now highly proficient with the tool.

• Every new market we enter presents a unique learning curve for our sales team.

  Every new market we enter presents a unique learning curve for our sales team.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The new software has a very hard learning curve.

  ✓ The new software has a very steep learning curve.

  In English, we describe a difficult learning curve as 'steep', not 'hard' or 'difficult'.

• ✗ I am currently on a high learning curve.

  ✓ I am currently on a steep learning curve.

  The standard collocations are 'steep learning curve' or 'flat learning curve', not 'high' or 'low'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It's a steep ___ at first, but once you get the hang of the coding language, it's easy.

  💡 The rate of progress in acquiring a difficult new skill.

  Show answer

  learning curve

• Our goal is to minimize the ___ for clients transitioning to our platform.

  💡 The period of adjustment and skill acquisition.

  Show answer

  learning curve