beyond our knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beyond our knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not known or understood. For example, "The cause of the mysterious illness remains beyond our knowledge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Like humans, plants and animals travel, often in ways beyond our knowledge and control.

The New York Times

What we have experienced now not only goes beyond our knowledge but also exceeds our ability to imagine".

The New Yorker

"We thought it was something beyond our knowledge," said Dr. Yoti Zabulon, who stood beside Dr. Matthew that night and watched the nurse die.

The New York Times - Magazine

Current descriptions of the cenacestor are limited by the scant information available: it is hard to understand the evolutionary forces that acted on our distant ancestors, whose environments and detailed biological characteristics are forever beyond our knowledge.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

First, there is organization of the minute parts of particular kinds of objects, which is responsible for the manifest properties of those objects, and which he thinks will always fall beyond our knowledge.

SEP

A whole succession of Kant's followers tried to 'go beyond' Kant by showing that there was finally no need to make the separation between our knowledge and the thing-in-itself beyond our knowledge.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

They emphasize not what we have accomplished or have collected, but what is unknown or beyond our complete knowledge.

The New York Times - Arts

The epistemicist says that there are semantic facts that are beyond our possible knowledge.

SEP

It is possible that we may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg, and synthetic biology applications will overpass expectations beyond our present knowledge.

Biochemical Pharmacology

From the same motive efforts are made to scrutinize the secrets of the natural world that lie beyond our sight; knowledge of these is of no profit, yet people want to know them simply for the sake of knowing.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

It is not really about anything other than itself, refusing to infuse its narrative with any deeper meaning beyond our own knowledge of what happened next.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "beyond our knowledge" to acknowledge the limits of current understanding or to introduce topics where information is incomplete or speculative. For example, in scientific writing, it can preface discussions of hypotheses or areas requiring further research.

Common error

Avoid using "beyond our knowledge" when the information is readily available or easily discoverable. This phrase is best reserved for genuinely unknown or highly complex topics, and its misuse can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beyond our knowledge" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the limits of what is known or understood. It often introduces a statement about something unknown or uncertain. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "beyond our knowledge" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to signify the limits of current understanding. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is relatively rare, appearing mostly in news, science, and formal business contexts. The phrase serves to acknowledge the boundaries of what is known, introduce uncertainty, or pave the way for further investigation. Remember to reserve its usage for genuinely unknown territories and avoid overstating ignorance. Alternatives like "outside our ken" or "beyond our comprehension" can add nuance, but always maintain clarity in expressing the unknown.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond the limits of our knowledge

Stresses the boundary of what we know.

beyond our comprehension

Highlights the difficulty in grasping the concept.

outside the scope of our understanding

Indicates something is not relevant or included in our current knowledge.

not within our understanding

Emphasizes a lack of comprehension.

outside our ken

Uses a more archaic and literary term for understanding.

lying outside our awareness

Highlights a lack of consciousness or recognition.

exceeding our grasp

Implies something is just out of reach.

surpassing our awareness

Implies something goes unnoticed or undetected by us.

unknown to us

A simpler, more direct way of saying something is not known.

not known to us

Directly states a lack of awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "beyond our knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "beyond our knowledge" to indicate that something is not currently known or understood. For example: "The precise origins of the universe remain "beyond our knowledge"."

What are some alternatives to "beyond our knowledge"?

Alternatives include "outside our ken", "not within our understanding", or "beyond our comprehension". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "beyond our knowledge" in formal writing?

Yes, "beyond our knowledge" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to acknowledge the limits of understanding in academic, scientific, or business contexts.

What's the difference between "beyond our knowledge" and "beyond our understanding"?

"Beyond our knowledge" refers to a lack of information, while "beyond our understanding" suggests a difficulty in comprehending available information. The choice depends on whether the issue is a lack of data or a lack of comprehension.