I know him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I know him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing familiarity or recognition of a person, typically in response to a question about someone. Example: "When asked if he was familiar with the new manager, John replied, 'I know him; we worked together at the last company.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Do I know him?

The New Yorker

"I know him.

The New York Times

Because I know him.

The New Yorker

"I know him well.

The New York Times - Sports

'Oh, Straub, I know him.

The New Yorker

I know him from here".

The New Yorker

"I know him, like, perfectly.

The New York Times - Sports

"Listen, I know him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yes, I know him.

The New York Times

So I know him.

The Guardian - Sport

"I know him enough".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I know him" to establish a connection or provide context when someone's name is mentioned. It can quickly signal familiarity and potentially shared experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "I know him" if your acquaintance is superficial. Instead, clarify the extent of your relationship (e.g., "I've met him once" or "I know of him").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I know him" functions as a declarative statement expressing the speaker's familiarity or acquaintance with a male individual. Based on Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I know him" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for indicating familiarity with a male individual. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans various contexts, primarily within news and media. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "I am acquainted with him" exist for professional settings. When using "I know him", ensure your level of acquaintance matches the implied familiarity to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I am familiar with him

Indicates a general awareness or knowledge of the person.

I am acquainted with him

Expresses a formal level of familiarity.

I've met him before

Implies a previous encounter, suggesting some level of acquaintance.

I recognize him

Focuses on visual recognition rather than deeper knowledge.

He's familiar to me

Shifts the focus to the person being familiar to you.

I'm acquainted with who he is

Slightly verbose but emphasizes knowledge of his identity.

I can place him

Indicates an ability to recall the person's identity or context.

I have knowledge of him

Formal way of saying you possess information about him.

I've crossed paths with him

Suggests a brief or casual encounter.

I am cognizant of him

Highly formal and emphasizes awareness.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "I know him"?

Use "I know him" when you want to quickly convey that you are familiar with a person being discussed. The depth of your knowledge will be implied by the context, but if it's minimal, it's better to clarify (e.g., "I've only met him briefly").

What's a more formal alternative to "I know him"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "I am acquainted with him" or "I am familiar with him". These options are suitable for professional or academic settings.

How does "I know him" differ from "I know of him"?

"I know him" implies a direct connection or acquaintance, whereas "I know of him" suggests you are aware of his existence or reputation but haven't necessarily met him personally.

Can I use "I know him" even if I don't know him well?

While grammatically correct, using "I know him" when your familiarity is limited might be misleading. It's better to qualify your statement with something like "I've met him before" or "I know him casually" to avoid misrepresenting the extent of your relationship.