a body of knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a body of knowledge" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a collection or set of knowledge or information on a particular subject or topic. Example: "As a scholar, I have spent years studying and contributing to the vast body of knowledge on ancient civilizations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We are also helping build a body of knowledge.

The Guardian

Dancers give their own privileged meaning to the phrase "a body of knowledge".

The Guardian

It seems that aesthetics, unlike cognitive science, is not a body of knowledge worth acquiring.

The New Yorker

Literature is a body of knowledge, and the presence of black stories of all shapes broadens the American literary canon.

The Guardian - Books

Really, it's an archive, a record of a moment in time, a body of knowledge, stamped with a shelf date.

The New Yorker

The result is a body of knowledge that's more diverse and dynamic than any in human history.

The Guardian

Here intelligence and a body of knowledge meet, and the former acts on the latter in productive ways.

The Guardian - Opinion

In schools, science is often taught as a body of knowledge -- a set of facts and equations.

The New York Times

It is that of being interested — in a body of knowledge, in a problem, in a hobby, in tomorrow's news­paper".

The New York Times - Books

There is no point-and-click formula for accumulating a body of knowledge needed to make sense of isolated facts.

The New York Times

The term human-factors engineering is used to designate equally a body of knowledge, a process, and a profession.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing academically, always cite the sources that contribute to the "a body of knowledge" you're referencing, giving credit to the researchers and thinkers who helped to build it.

Common error

Avoid using "a body of knowledge" when you simply mean 'information'. The phrase implies a structured, organized, and often formally recognized collection of information, like a scientific discipline or an established field of study.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a body of knowledge" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject or object, referring to a structured and organized collection of information, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a body of knowledge" is a noun phrase that refers to a structured and organized collection of information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in scientific, academic, and news-related domains. It's crucial to use this phrase when referring to a well-defined set of information with underlying principles, rather than just a collection of facts. Alternatives such as "a fund of knowledge" or "an accumulation of expertise" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an organized compendium of facts

Highlights the organized nature and factual content of the knowledge.

a fund of knowledge

Uses 'fund' to imply a supply or stock of knowledge.

an accumulation of expertise

Emphasizes the practical skills and experience gained over time.

a deep well of learning

Emphasizes the depth and richness of the accumulated knowledge.

a repository of learning

Stresses the function of knowledge as stored learning.

a store of information

Highlights the storage aspect of knowledge rather than its cohesive nature.

a wealth of insights

Highlights the depth and value of the accumulated knowledge.

a collection of facts

Focuses on the factual aspect rather than the organized structure.

an extensive understanding

Focuses on comprehension rather than the compilation of information.

a compilation of data

Refers specifically to data rather than broader knowledge.

FAQs

How can "a body of knowledge" be applied in a sentence?

The phrase "a body of knowledge" refers to a structured and comprehensive collection of information on a particular subject. For instance, "The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge about climate change."

What are some alternatives to "a body of knowledge"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a fund of knowledge", "a store of information", or "an accumulation of expertise".

Is it correct to say 'the body of knowledge' instead of "a body of knowledge"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "A body of knowledge" refers to a general collection of knowledge, while 'the body of knowledge' typically refers to a specific, well-defined set of information.

What's the difference between "a body of knowledge" and "a collection of facts"?

"A body of knowledge" implies a structured and coherent set of information, often with underlying principles and theories. "A collection of facts" simply refers to a gathering of individual pieces of information, without necessarily implying any organization or relationship between them.