an inadequate knowledge of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an inadequate knowledge of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's insufficient understanding or awareness of a particular subject or topic. Example: "His performance in the exam reflected an inadequate knowledge of the fundamental concepts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Revisions were made by foreigners with an inadequate knowledge of Amharic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The problem was that he used the party to promote his own ambitions, was more interested in public approval than policy, had an inadequate knowledge of Europe and the world, cynically broke agreements and election promises, and perhaps worst of all from Mr Lafontaine's perspective was totally incapable of working in a team.But it is Mr Lafontaine himself who comes out worst from the book.

The Economist

"There is an inadequate knowledge of who we are and what we are," says Israel Gaither, head of the U.S. arm of the Salvation Army, which spent $2.8 billion in 2005 running rehab centers, shelters and meal services for the needy.

Forbes

In part, this may be a result of higher priority given to curative treatment compared with effective pain relief or an inadequate knowledge of pain management; for example not tailoring treatment to the specific type of pain [ 6, 20].

BMC Palliative Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

How nurses administer range orders may vary based on their interpretation of the intent of an order, inadequate knowledge of analgesic titration, or exaggerated concerns about opioid safety.

Pain Management Nursing

Accordingly, we may safely conclude that the remarks made above by the participants constitute evidence of an inadequate knowledge base in language assessment.

Language Testing in Asia

The major factors that account for this non-use of exercise prescription are: limited contract time with the patient, lack of training in medical school resulting in an inadequate knowledge base about exercises, and lack of appropriate support materials [ 18- 21].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The failure to recognize SNC as an occupational disease may imply inadequate knowledge of SNC - a serious form of cancer with high levels of mortality, that significantly compromises quality of life - and incomplete preventive measures.

BMC Cancer

It includes accounts of a marital rape, a tender love affair between two women and an arrogant male doctor whose inadequate knowledge of women's bodies causes a baby's death.

The New York Times

An additional impact on inadequate knowledge of PU prevention among nurses may have arisen from the unequal proportions in these variables, and might have contributed to the non-significant results.

BMC Nursing

Possible explanation may be the social or cultural factors that tolerate a higher body weight and inadequate knowledge of ideal body weight.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "an inadequate knowledge of", specify the area or subject where knowledge is lacking for clarity. For example, "an inadequate knowledge of data security protocols".

Common error

Avoid using "an inadequate knowledge of" when a complete lack of knowledge is meant. The phrase implies some knowledge exists, albeit insufficient. For a complete lack of knowledge, use "ignorance of" or "lack of knowledge of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an inadequate knowledge of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a deficiency in understanding or awareness. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an inadequate knowledge of" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for describing a lack of sufficient understanding in a specific area. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and offers various real-world examples. While not exceptionally frequent, its usage is distributed across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and encyclopedias. To enhance clarity, always specify the area where knowledge is lacking, and be mindful of the degree of inadequacy to avoid overstating the lack of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited understanding of

Replaces "knowledge" with "understanding" and "inadequate" with "limited", softening the criticism slightly.

a poor understanding of

Substitutes "inadequate" with "poor", indicating a low quality of understanding.

a deficient grasp of

Uses "grasp" instead of "knowledge" to emphasize a lack of comprehension, and "deficient" for a stronger negative connotation.

insufficient awareness of

Replaces "knowledge" with "awareness", focusing on a lack of recognition or consciousness.

a lack of familiarity with

Emphasizes the absence of experience or close knowledge.

a superficial acquaintance with

Suggests a very basic or surface-level understanding, implying a lack of depth.

a rudimentary understanding of

Highlights a basic or initial level of understanding.

limited expertise in

Highlights a lack of specialized skill or knowledge in a particular area.

a sketchy conception of

Uses "sketchy" to emphasize incompleteness and vagueness of the understanding.

a basic ignorance of

Uses "ignorance" to denote a complete lack of knowledge, stronger than "inadequate knowledge".

FAQs

How can I use "an inadequate knowledge of" in a sentence?

You can use "an inadequate knowledge of" to describe a lack of sufficient understanding in a particular area. For example: "His poor performance was due to "an inadequate knowledge of" the subject matter."

What are some alternatives to "an inadequate knowledge of"?

Alternatives include "a limited understanding of", "a deficient grasp of", or "a poor understanding of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "inadequate knowledge about" or "inadequate knowledge of"?

"Inadequate knowledge of" is generally preferred and more common. While "inadequate knowledge about" isn't grammatically incorrect, "of" is the standard preposition used with "knowledge".

What's the difference between "an inadequate knowledge of" and "a lack of knowledge of"?

"An inadequate knowledge of" suggests some understanding exists, but it's insufficient. "A lack of knowledge of" implies a complete absence of understanding or information.