are ignorant of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are ignorant of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a lack of knowledge or awareness about a particular subject or issue. Example: "Many people are ignorant of the environmental impact of their daily choices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And the people doing it are ignorant of – or blatantly ignoring – the facts … Any debate should be based on fact not untruths.

The Guardian

The ignorance hypothesis—"the hypothesis that we are ignorant of a type of experience-relevant nonexperiential truth" (6)—forms the centerpiece of his epistemic view.

SEP

They are ignorant of what is important.

The Guardian - Opinion

Voters are ignorant of and bored by regulation.

The Economist

People who make those comments are ignorant of the facts".

The New York Times

Does it matter if Americans are ignorant of their past?

The New York Times - Magazine

Hence, many are ignorant of the Way, and few realize it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Suggestion: media-addled millennials are ignorant of issues; elected Obama only on the cool factor.

The New Yorker

It's their mothers, she added, who express alarm that their daughters are ignorant of the history.

The New York Times - Arts

Western secular Jews often are ignorant of, or choose to neglect, traditional observances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

For early career scientists, ignorance--and knowing what areas we are ignorant of--also provides compelling professional opportunities.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with complex subjects like "history", "policy", "consequences" or "realities" to highlight systemic blind spots.

Common error

Do not use "are ignorant of" when you actually mean "are ignoring". To be "ignorant of" something means you do not know it exists or do not understand it. To be "ignoring" something means you are aware of it but choosing to disregard it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are ignorant of" acts as a predicate adjective construction consisting of the linking verb "are", the adjective "ignorant" and the preposition "of". It functions to link a subject to a specific state of not knowing. According to Ludwig AI, this structure is standard and highly effective for descriptive analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are ignorant of" is a robust and widely accepted way to describe a lack of knowledge in English. It is classified by Ludwig AI as grammatically correct and is extensively utilized across prestigious domains including Academia, Science and News. While it accurately denotes a state of being uninformed, writers should be mindful of its slightly critical edge in social contexts. In professional and research environments, it remains a precise tool for identifying information gaps. For a softer tone, alternatives like "are unaware of" are perfectly interchangeable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are unaware of

Provides a more neutral and less judgmental tone than ignorant.

lack knowledge of

Focuses on the absence of information rather than a character trait.

lack awareness of

Suggests a systemic or perceptive gap rather than just a lack of facts.

have no knowledge of

Emphasizes a total absence of information on the subject.

are oblivious to

Implies the subject is completely unobservant or failing to notice what is happening.

are uninformed about

Suggests the subject has not been given the proper facts yet.

are unfamiliar with

Indicates a lack of personal experience or acquaintance with a topic.

are unacquainted with

A more formal way to say the subject does not know a specific field or concept.

do not know about

The simplest and most direct plain English alternative.

are in the dark about

An idiomatic expression suggesting information is being kept from the subject.

FAQs

How do I use "are ignorant of" in a sentence?

You use it to describe people who lack knowledge about a specific fact or situation. For example, Ludwig provides the sentence: "Many voters "are ignorant of" basic political facts."

What can I say instead of "are ignorant of" to be more polite?

If you want to avoid the potential sting of the word ignorant, you can use "are unaware of" or "lack familiarity with".

Is it "are ignorant of" or "are ignorant about"?

Both are used, but "are ignorant of" is the standard idiomatic form in high-level writing. If you want a more casual phrasing, "uninformed about" is a great choice.

What is the difference between "are ignorant of" and "are oblivious to"?

To be "ignorant of" usually implies a lack of education or information, while "are oblivious to" implies that someone is failing to notice things that are currently happening around them.