an intimate knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an intimate knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deep and thorough understanding of a subject or topic. Example: "Her years of experience in the field have given her an intimate knowledge of the industry standards and practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A writer, he claimed an intimate knowledge of American poetry.

The Guardian

Kushner herself evinces an intimate knowledge of her novel's world and characters.

The New York Times - Books

Granada was my base, and I developed an intimate knowledge of the city.

The New York Times - Travel

Turing's role in wartime code-breaking had left him with an intimate knowledge of British intelligence.

The New Yorker

Why does the writer of this article have such an intimate knowledge of gargoyles?

The New York Times

Rangers generally have an intimate knowledge of the parks and can serve as informative guides.

The New York Times - Travel

Choosing what to drink if you don't have an intimate knowledge of sake can be difficult.

The New York Times - Food

As a local, he had an intimate knowledge of Zhangwei's social demographics.

The New Yorker

But visitors don't have an intimate knowledge of the animal, an awareness established early in life.

The Washington Post

They needed imagination applied to an intimate knowledge of a business.

Harvard Business Review

I will continue to use Blackburn as an illustration, because I have an intimate knowledge, having stood there in 2005.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey expertise or deep understanding, use "an intimate knowledge" to show a level of familiarity that goes beyond basic comprehension. For example, "Her success in the role was due to her intimate knowledge of the customer base."

Common error

Avoid using "an intimate knowledge" when you simply mean personal familiarity. "Intimate" here refers to a depth of understanding, not necessarily a close, personal relationship. For example, it's better to say "extensive knowledge" if the context is professional distance, not personal closeness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an intimate knowledge" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As Ludwig confirms, it describes a deep and thorough understanding of a subject or topic. Examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts ranging from poetry to business.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

13%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

11%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an intimate knowledge" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a deep and thorough understanding of a subject. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news and media to academic and scientific writing. The phrase signifies expertise and competence and is best used when emphasizing the depth of understanding rather than personal familiarity. While perfectly acceptable to use, remember, as Ludwig's AI suggests, be careful not to confuse it with feelings of personal intimacy; instead, focus on its meaning as a profound understanding of a subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a profound understanding

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the understanding.

an extensive familiarity

Highlights broad and wide-ranging knowledge, especially from long association.

a deep-seated awareness

Focuses on an inherent and ingrained understanding.

a thorough grasp

Suggests a comprehensive and complete understanding.

a comprehensive insight

Highlights the ability to see into the complexities of a topic.

a detailed acquaintance

Suggests close and specific knowledge, often gained through experience.

a working knowledge

Refers to a practical understanding sufficient for application.

a sophisticated understanding

Emphasizes the advanced and refined nature of the knowledge.

a specialized expertise

Implies expert-level knowledge in a particular field.

an ingrained comprehension

Implies knowledge that is deeply rooted and inherent.

FAQs

How can I use "an intimate knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "an intimate knowledge" to describe a deep and thorough understanding of a subject. For example: "The chef's success stems from an intimate knowledge of flavor pairings."

What are some alternatives to "an intimate knowledge"?

Alternatives include "a profound understanding", "an extensive familiarity", or "a thorough grasp" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I have an intimate knowledge about something"?

While grammatically correct, it's more common to say "I have an intimate knowledge of something". The preposition "of" is typically used to link "an intimate knowledge" to the subject matter.

What is the difference between "an intimate knowledge" and "a basic understanding"?

"An intimate knowledge" implies a deep, detailed, and thorough understanding, whereas "a basic understanding" suggests only a superficial or introductory level of knowledge. "An intimate knowledge" goes beyond the surface level.