a satisfactory knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a satisfactory knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the adequacy or sufficiency of someone's understanding or awareness of a subject. Example: "To perform well in this role, you must have a satisfactory knowledge of the company's policies and procedures."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I can say from experience that within the period of compulsory schooling, our pupils will not acquire a satisfactory knowledge of evolution and particularly human evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Because the Commission is multilingual, all successful candidates must be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of one official EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of at least one more.

Science Magazine

The mean score was 3.9 ± 1.2 points with 295 (87.0%) of the mothers scoring above 3 marks and were classified as having a satisfactory knowledge on the aspects inquired.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The hypothetical status of all physical theories is underscored also in Some Thoughts Concerning Education: "The systems of natural philosophy…are to be read, more to know the hypotheses…than with hopes to gain thereby a comprehensive, scientifical, and satisfactory knowledge of the works of nature".(Locke, quoted in Rogers 1982, p. 230).

SEP

Likewise, 1 in 10 respondents with satisfactory knowledge had a satisfactory attitude while 2 in 10 had a highly satisfactory attitude.

BMJ Open

Those who had no formal schooling exhibited a higher proportion of highly satisfactory knowledge than those who had high school or more education (28.3% vs 24.6%, but highly satisfactory practice was low among them (12.5% vs 28.8%, data not shown).

BMJ Open

The knowledge of HCWs as it relates to HIV/AIDS was moderately adequate in this study which is similar to another South African study [ 37], and a Nigerian study which also reported satisfactory knowledge of HIV/AIDS amongst the participating HCWs in SSA [ 24].

BMC Medical Ethics

Satisfactory knowledge was classified as a minimum score of three points.

BMC Public Health

Among those with highly satisfactory knowledge, only 14.7% had a highly satisfactory attitude and 19.5% and 13.9% had satisfactory and highly satisfactory practices, respectively.

BMJ Open

In collaboration with a panel of program managers and educators, we approximated a minimum level of participation that may ensure satisfactory knowledge and skills to carry out diabetes self-management activities based on the fundamental principles of DSME (i.e., initial assessment, education, and follow-up/evaluation), as defined by the American Diabetes Clinical Practice Guidelines [ 33].

BMC Health Services Research

In The English Eccentrics (1933), Edith Sitwell claimed that "Eccentricity exists particularly in the English, and partly, I think, because of that peculiar and satisfactory knowledge of infallibility that is the hallmark and birthright of the British nation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a satisfactory knowledge", clearly define what constitutes 'satisfactory' in the context. For example, state specific skills or information that an individual should possess.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a satisfactory knowledge" implies comprehensive understanding. Ensure that expectations are aligned with what is actually meant by 'satisfactory' in the given context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a satisfactory knowledge" functions as a noun phrase, where "satisfactory" is an adjective modifying the noun "knowledge". Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, indicating the level of understanding required or possessed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a satisfactory knowledge" denotes an adequate level of understanding about a specific subject. Grammatically correct, as indicated by Ludwig, it's most often found in science, news, and formal business contexts. While not exceptionally common, it effectively communicates that someone meets a required level of understanding, without necessarily implying complete expertise. When using this phrase, ensure that the criteria for 'satisfactory' are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequate understanding

Replaces "satisfactory knowledge" with a more common synonym for understanding.

sufficient awareness

Substitutes "knowledge" with "awareness" and "satisfactory" with "sufficient", slightly altering the focus.

acceptable level of expertise

Changes "knowledge" to "expertise", implying a higher degree of skill, and uses "acceptable" as a more subjective measure.

competent grasp

Uses "grasp" instead of "knowledge", suggesting comprehension rather than mere awareness, and "competent" to indicate ability.

reasonable familiarity

Replaces "knowledge" with "familiarity", indicating a less in-depth understanding, and uses "reasonable" to denote sufficiency.

serviceable command

Uses "command" to imply the ability to use knowledge effectively, and "serviceable" to indicate that it's good enough for practical purposes.

functional understanding

Focuses on the practical application of knowledge, implying that it's sufficient for performing tasks.

basic working knowledge

Highlights the fundamental nature of the knowledge, suggesting it's enough to get started.

passing acquaintance

Implies a superficial level of knowledge, sufficient for basic interaction but not deep understanding.

modest proficiency

Uses "proficiency" to denote skill and "modest" to indicate a limited degree of expertise.

FAQs

How can I use "a satisfactory knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "a satisfactory knowledge" to describe someone's understanding of a topic, such as: "To succeed in this role, you need "a satisfactory knowledge" of the company's policies."

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

Alternatives include "adequate understanding", "sufficient awareness", or "acceptable level of expertise", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "satisfactory knowledge" or "sufficient knowledge"?

Both "satisfactory knowledge" and "sufficient knowledge" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the desired emphasis; "satisfactory" implies meeting a specific requirement, while "sufficient" simply means enough.

How is "a satisfactory knowledge" different from "an expert knowledge"?

"A satisfactory knowledge" suggests a basic or adequate understanding, while "an expert knowledge" implies a deep and comprehensive understanding of a subject.