I learned of

USAGE SUMMARY

"I learned of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you've acquired knowledge or information about something. Example: "I learned of a wonderful new restaurant that just opened in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

That's when I learned of his death.

The Guardian - Music

I learned of this pleasing URL: .

The New Yorker

Again, I learned of it days after it occurred.

The New York Times

I held my tongue when I learned of this deception.

The New York Times

It was with great sadness that I learned of Lady Thatcher's death.

The New York Times

"Alice has changed," I told friends when I learned of her decision.

The New Yorker

I learned of Brandt's work through this interview with the excellent Safari Talk blog.

The New York Times

When I learned of his injury, I was more worried about his swing than the game.

The New York Times

It was through Uncle Abe that I learned of the incredible scientific events of 1913.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was from this list that I learned of Eve Troeh's call for public comment about the semantics of Katrina.

The New Yorker

I learned of openly LGBT people who were not only pursuing but achieving their dreams.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider specifying the source or context from which you gained the information soon after using "I learned of".

Common error

While "I learned of" is acceptable, excessive use can make your writing sound repetitive. In formal contexts, vary your phrasing with alternatives like "I became aware of" or "I discovered" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I learned of" functions as an introductory clause indicating the acquisition of new information. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It sets the stage for conveying what was discovered or understood.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I learned of" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to introduce newly acquired information. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various writing styles. While predominantly found in news and media contexts, it's also applicable in formal and informal settings. For enhanced clarity, consider providing context or source of your knowledge immediately after employing the phrase. When aiming for elevated formality, you might choose alternatives such as "I became aware of" or "I was informed of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I became aware of

Changes the verb to 'became aware', emphasizing the process of becoming conscious of something.

I found out about

Replaces "learned" with "found out", which is a more casual way of expressing the discovery of information.

I discovered

A more concise way to express gaining knowledge, focusing on the act of discovery.

I heard about

Indicates the information was received through hearsay or communication.

I came to know of

Emphasizes a gradual process of learning or understanding.

I was informed of

Suggests that the information was formally or officially communicated.

I ascertained

Implies a more thorough investigation to gain knowledge.

I gathered

Suggests learning from multiple sources or pieces of information.

I understood

Highlights comprehension rather than simply receiving information.

It came to my attention that

A more formal and indirect way of saying that something was learned.

FAQs

How can I use "I learned of" in a sentence?

Use "I learned of" to introduce information you recently discovered. For example, "I learned of a new policy that will affect our team."

What's a more formal alternative to "I learned of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "I became aware of" or "I was informed of".

Is it correct to say "I learned about" instead of "I learned of"?

Yes, "I learned about" is a perfectly acceptable alternative and is often used interchangeably with "I learned of", especially when discussing a topic in more detail.

What is the difference between "I learned of" and "I heard of"?

"I learned of" generally implies gaining factual information, while "I heard of" suggests receiving information through hearsay or casual communication. For example, you might say "I learned of the new regulations from the official announcement", but "I heard of the rumor about layoffs from a colleague."