I knew about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I knew about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to prior knowledge or awareness of a particular subject or situation. Example: "I knew about the changes in the schedule before the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"That's not something I knew about," she says.

The Guardian

I knew about manufacturing.

The New York Times

I KNEW about fear.

The New York Times

I knew about recording history.

The New York Times

I knew about its existence.

The New York Times

I knew about it.

The Guardian

I knew about despair.

The New York Times

"I knew about Jesus".

The New York Times - Magazine

I knew about nature.

The Guardian

This is before I knew about alginate.

The New Yorker

"I knew about that," Johnson said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context and adjust your vocabulary choices so as to find the best word to reflect the kind and completeness of your knowledge. For example, instead of writing "I knew about the incident", if your knowledge was vague write "I had heard of the incident."

Common error

While acceptable, repeatedly using "I knew about" in formal documents can sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "I was aware of" or "I had knowledge of" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I knew about" primarily functions as a declarative statement indicating the speaker's prior awareness or knowledge of a particular subject, event, or person. It asserts a state of being informed. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is indeed correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I knew about" serves as a clear and direct way to express prior knowledge or awareness, suitable for various contexts. Ludwig confirms that the expression is grammatically correct and widely used. Although "I knew about" appears most frequently in news and media, it also appears in science, and business contexts. When it comes to writing, while perfectly acceptable, consider more formal alternatives for more sophisticated writing. Remember also that options like "I found out about" carry the opposite meaning, indicating the acquisition of new knowledge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I already knew

Adds emphasis on the prior nature of the knowledge.

I was aware of

Replaces "knew" with "was aware", emphasizing the state of being informed.

I was familiar with

Suggests a degree of acquaintance or experience with the subject.

I had knowledge of

Uses a more formal tone, substituting "knew" with "had knowledge".

It was not news to me

Emphasizes that the information was already known and not surprising.

I was informed of

Shifts the focus to the act of receiving information, rather than possessing it.

I had heard of

Implies awareness through hearsay or indirect information.

I recognized

Focuses on acknowledgement of the information.

I understood

Focuses on comprehension and grasp of the topic.

I possessed the information regarding

Uses a very formal tone, emphasizing possession of information.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I knew about"?

You can use alternatives like "I was aware of", "I had knowledge of", or "I was familiar with" depending on the context.

How do I use "I knew about" in a sentence?

Use "I knew about" to express prior knowledge or awareness of something. For example, "I knew about the meeting" or "I knew about the risks involved."

Which is correct, "I knew about it" or "I knew of it"?

"I knew about it" is generally more common and natural. "I knew of it" is grammatically correct, but implies a more distant or superficial awareness.

What's the difference between "I knew about" and "I found out about"?

"I knew about" indicates prior knowledge, while "I found out about" indicates the acquisition of new information. They describe opposite perspectives in the timeline of gaining information.