all of us knew

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all of us knew" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a shared understanding or knowledge among a group of people. Example: "Despite the rumors, all of us knew the truth about what happened that day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

For all of us knew that the invasion of Japan was in the offing, and that we'd be involved in no more feints or diversions.

The New Yorker

All of us knew that the plane was supposed to land in Düsseldorf.

The Guardian - Opinion

All of us knew where everyone else was at any given moment".

The New York Times - Sports

"By the next morning, all of us knew never to get in that man's car," he said.

The New Yorker

"It turned into a big flash fireball, and the wing separated". "All of us knew we had a crash.

The Guardian

There was a lab meeting in the morning, and it was not optional, and all of us knew it.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

We all knew immediately, all three of us knew right away what that was".

Huffington Post

Are honest, good patriots all of us know.

Columbia University

"All of us know what's at stake.

The Washington Post

All of us know someone who's faced mental illness.

The Guardian - Opinion

And he'd let all of us know too.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all of us knew" to clearly indicate shared knowledge within a specific group, adding context for clarity. For example, "Before the announcement, all of us knew changes were coming."

Common error

Ensure the "us" in "all of us knew" is clearly defined to avoid confusion about who shares the knowledge. For example, specify "all of us in the department knew" instead of just "all of us knew."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all of us knew" functions as a statement expressing shared past knowledge or awareness within a defined group. Ludwig examples show it used to convey a common understanding of events, situations, or facts among a collective.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all of us knew" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a shared prior understanding within a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately conveys that a certain piece of information or situation was commonly recognized among a specific set of people. While versatile, it's important to define the group clearly to avoid ambiguity. Common contexts include news and media, followed by academic discourse. For increased formality in professional contexts, alternatives such as "we were all aware" might be preferred. It's important to discern whether you are referencing past or present common knowledge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

We were all aware

Replaces "knew" with "were aware", emphasizing a state of awareness rather than active knowledge.

Everyone understood

Substitutes "knew" with "understood", focusing on comprehension.

We all realized

Uses "realized" instead of "knew", highlighting the moment of understanding.

It was common knowledge among us

Expresses the idea as something generally known within the group.

We all had an understanding

Focuses on having a shared understanding.

We were all conscious of

Emphasizes a shared consciousness or awareness of something.

We collectively recognized

Highlights the group's recognition of something.

It was no secret to any of us

Suggests the knowledge was widely held and not concealed.

We were all in the loop

Implies that everyone was informed and aware of the situation.

We had previous knowledge of

Emphasizes the possession of prior information.

FAQs

How can I use "all of us knew" in a sentence?

You can use "all of us knew" to express a shared understanding or prior knowledge within a group. For example, "All of us knew that the project was behind schedule."

What phrases are similar to "all of us knew"?

Similar phrases include "we were all aware", "everyone understood", or "we all realized". Each "alternative phrase" emphasizes a slightly different aspect of shared knowledge.

Is "all of us knew" formal or informal?

"All of us knew" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but consider more formal alternatives like "we were all aware" in professional settings.

What's the difference between "all of us knew" and "all of us know"?

"All of us knew" refers to a shared understanding in the past, while "all of us know" refers to a current shared understanding.