a complete knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complete knowledge" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would be "complete knowledge" without the article "a." Example: "To excel in this field, one must have complete knowledge of the subject matter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think he's very capable, very experienced, with a complete knowledge of everything around football and its organisation," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

As a result, the network no longer has a complete knowledge of all the tracked information.

Journal of Systems Architecture

A complete knowledge of the huge wave in churn flow is of great importance for the characterization of its entrainment.

Chemical Engineering Science

It is important to have a complete knowledge on the behaviour of the composite material subjected to high temperature.

Construction and Building Materials

System behavior in high eccentricity transfer orbits is also studied to give a complete knowledge of the spinning stabilities.

Acta Astronautica

It assumes a complete knowledge of the extent & nature of military invasion, & this can never exist and at best is just guesswork.

The New Yorker

Complementarity principle, in physics, tenet that a complete knowledge of phenomena on atomic dimensions requires a description of both wave and particle properties.

Britannica

As both phenomena are common in practice, it is natural that we require both sides (models) to have a complete knowledge of the actual operational dynamics.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The need for a complete knowledge of the performances of the measurement set-up is considered an essential preliminary step for reliability in wind tunnel testing.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

A complete knowledge of a star's motion in space is possible only when both its proper motion and radial velocity can be measured.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thus, it is necessary to employ an efficient control technique with acceptable performance without a complete knowledge of the disturbed model.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to encompassing knowledge, use "complete knowledge" without the article "a". It's grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Common error

Don't use the article "a" before "complete knowledge". Although the phrase "a complete knowledge" is frequently found, the grammatically correct form is without the article. Consider using phrases like "thorough knowledge" or "comprehensive understanding" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complete knowledge" functions as a noun phrase that describes a state of having total or exhaustive understanding of a particular subject. While Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as grammatically incorrect, its frequent appearance indicates its use, especially in technical writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

17%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a complete knowledge" is frequently encountered, particularly in scientific and technical contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct form is "complete knowledge" without the article. For more formal and grammatically sound writing, alternatives such as "thorough knowledge" or "comprehensive understanding" are preferable. It's crucial to prioritize grammatical accuracy, especially in formal and scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thorough knowledge

Omits the article "a", aligning with standard grammatical conventions.

complete comprehension

Focuses on the action of grasping something mentally.

comprehensive understanding

Replaces "knowledge" with "understanding" and "complete" with "comprehensive", emphasizing depth.

full understanding

Similar to comprehensive understanding but uses "full" instead.

in-depth understanding

Highlights the depth of understanding, implying a detailed grasp.

mastery of the subject

Emphasizes expertise and control over a particular subject.

deep understanding

Focuses on the profoundness of the understanding.

extensive knowledge

Stresses the breadth and scope of the knowledge.

profound insight

Implies a deep level of understanding and perception.

total familiarity

Focuses on the extent of being acquainted or aware of something.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a complete knowledge"?

No, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "complete knowledge" without the article "a". Though frequently used, standard English prefers the latter.

What can I say instead of "a complete knowledge"?

You can use alternatives like "thorough knowledge", "comprehensive understanding", or "full comprehension" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a complete knowledge" or "complete knowledge"?

"Complete knowledge" is the correct and preferred usage in standard English. "A complete knowledge" is often found, but it's grammatically unconventional.

Why is "a complete knowledge" considered incorrect?

The phrase "a complete knowledge" is redundant. "Knowledge" is generally treated as an uncountable noun in this context, so it doesn't require the indefinite article "a". Using "complete knowledge" is more concise and grammatically sound.