acquaint yourself with

USAGE SUMMARY

"acquaint yourself with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to advise someone to become familiar with something. For example: "Before you start the project, acquaint yourself with the company's policies and procedures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Before you play, it is important to acquaint yourself with the scoring system.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Your first step should be to acquaint yourself with Resilient Networking principles.

Harvard Business Review

To acquaint yourself with the city, walk around the walls and then head to the York Minster (yorkminster.org).org

The New York Times

In the summer, acquaint yourself with the Common Application to see what essays and supplements are required for your application.

The New York Times

Funny, sexy, thrilling and often incredibly violent, it's worth clearing a day to acquaint yourself with this show.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Besides the music, all buses come with air-conditioning — and a chance to acquaint yourself with local culture and cuisine.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

1. Re-acquaint yourself with your filings.

Forbes

You will probably want to take a tour around town to re-acquaint yourself with the city.

Huffington Post

Jump one more time to re-acquaint yourself with the feeling.

WikiHow

If the posts you're applying for require subject-related knowledge, re-acquaint yourself with your degree notes and read up on current developments.

The Guardian - Money

But even if you've already got critical information on file, you may be able to prevent it from being disclosed improperly: 1. Re-acquaint yourself with your filings.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acquaint yourself with", ensure the subject is clearly defined. For example, "Acquaint yourself with the new software before the training session."

Common error

Avoid using "acquaint" when a simpler verb like "learn" or "discover" would be more appropriate. "Acquaint" is best when emphasizing familiarity or understanding something complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquaint yourself with" functions as an imperative phrase, used to direct or advise someone to become familiar with something. Ludwig confirms this, showcasing its common use in providing guidance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

31%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquaint yourself with" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to advise or instruct someone to become familiar with something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news articles to instructional guides. It is most frequently encountered in "News & Media" and "Wiki" sources. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in defining the subject you want someone to become familiar with. Consider alternatives like ""familiarize yourself with"" or "get to know" based on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

familiarize yourself with

Emphasizes becoming familiar, often implying a learning process.

become acquainted with

A more formal and passive way of saying "acquaint yourself with".

get to know

Suggests a more personal and gradual process of becoming familiar.

learn about

Focuses on acquiring knowledge about a specific topic or subject.

get up to speed on

Implies quickly learning the essential information to be current.

inform yourself about

Highlights the act of actively seeking information.

make yourself aware of

Stresses the importance of being conscious of something.

become conversant with

Implies achieving a level of fluency or understanding.

get the hang of

Focuses on learning how to do something effectively.

study up on

Suggests a dedicated effort to learn something, often for a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "acquaint yourself with" in a sentence?

Use "acquaint yourself with" to advise someone to become familiar with something. For example, "Before the trip, "familiarize yourself with" the local customs."

What's a good alternative to "acquaint yourself with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""familiarize yourself with"", "get to know", or "learn about".

Is "acquaint yourself with" formal or informal?

"Acquaint yourself with" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for professional or academic contexts but also usable in everyday conversation.

What does "acquaint" actually mean?

"Acquaint" means to make someone aware of or familiar with something. Therefore, "acquaint yourself with" means to make yourself aware of or familiar with something.