compendium of all knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compendium of all knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a comprehensive collection or summary of information on a particular subject or a wide range of subjects. Example: "The internet has become a compendium of all knowledge, providing access to information on virtually any topic imaginable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Eriugena's masterpiece is undoubtedly the Periphyseon (written c.862- c.867), a long dialogue in five books between an anonymous 'Teacher' (nutritor) and his 'Student' (alumnus) that attempts to be a compendium of all knowledge presented within a Neoplatonic cosmology of the procession and return of all things from the divine One.

SEP

But: this is representative of the astonishing fact that the internet, humankind's compendium of all knowledge useful and not, is being used as a tool to promote willful ignorance in a way that presumes social advantage.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He's "a compendium of all human knowledge" in the 2030 library.

The New York Times

Today most people think of an encyclopaedia as a multivolume compendium of all available knowledge, complete with maps and a detailed index, as well as numerous adjuncts such as bibliographies, illustrations, lists of abbreviations and foreign expressions, gazetteers, and so on.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But by allowing specialists to pool their knowledge on a Web site, he said, the Encyclopedia of Life will be able to come close to the dream of a compendium of all the known species in the world.

The New York Times

Wilson's piece threatens to be an updated compendium of all these clichés.

The New Yorker

In a Paris Review interview, he said, "My first novel... is a compendium of all the writers I loved and admired".

The New Yorker

His cards were all the compendium of his knowledge of the farm, and one by one he played them to me.

The New Yorker

For Her (a "faux-expert compendium of scientific knowledge").

The Guardian - Tech

The blurb describes it as "a thorough compendium of the knowledge of the pharmacological, medical, and legal aspects of drugs".

The Guardian - Tech

Although lacking in unity, it is a compendium of the knowledge of the time that had been neglected by the less speculative scholars of the new state Confucianism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about something that represents a comprehensive resource for information, consider using "compendium of all knowledge" to emphasize its broad scope.

Common error

Avoid using "compendium of all knowledge" when a simpler term like "collection", "summary", or "overview" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose and pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compendium of all knowledge" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object. It describes something that aims to contain a comprehensive collection of information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "compendium of all knowledge" is a grammatically correct and descriptive noun phrase used to denote a comprehensive collection of information. While not extremely common, according to Ludwig's analysis, it appears across diverse contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias. Using simpler terms might be better in informal instances. Its formal register makes it suitable for academic, scientific, and professional writing when emphasizing the exhaustive nature of a knowledge base. Alternatives include "repository of all information" or "encyclopedia of all subjects".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

repository of all information

Replaces "compendium" with "repository", focusing on storage aspect.

collection of all wisdom

Substitutes "knowledge" with "wisdom", implying a deeper understanding.

encyclopedia of all subjects

Specifies the form of the compendium as an "encyclopedia" and replaces "knowledge" with "subjects".

summary of all learning

Uses "summary" instead of "compendium", suggesting a condensed form of knowledge.

database of total knowledge

Emphasizes a structured collection of data, replacing "compendium" with "database" and "all" with "total".

archive of complete knowledge

Focuses on preserving knowledge over time, replacing "compendium" with "archive".

inventory of every fact

Highlights individual facts instead of general knowledge, replacing "compendium" with "inventory".

catalog of universal learning

Replaces "knowledge" with "learning", suggesting an active acquisition of information and "all" with "universal".

index of all data

Suggests a structured listing of information, replacing "compendium" with "index" and "knowledge" with "data".

treasury of all insights

Implies value and importance of the accumulated knowledge, replacing "compendium" with "treasury" and "knowledge" with "insights".

FAQs

How can I use "compendium of all knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "compendium of all knowledge" to describe something that contains a wide range of information on various subjects. For example, "The internet is often described as a "compendium of all knowledge" because it offers access to information on virtually any topic imaginable".

What's a good alternative to "compendium of all knowledge"?

Alternatives to "compendium of all knowledge" include "repository of all information", "collection of all wisdom", or "encyclopedia of all subjects". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "compendium of all knowledge" an overused phrase?

While "compendium of all knowledge" is a valid and descriptive phrase, it can be considered somewhat formal or grandiose. In many cases, simpler alternatives like "comprehensive collection" or "complete resource" might be more appropriate.

In what contexts is "compendium of all knowledge" most appropriate?

The phrase "compendium of all knowledge" is best suited for describing resources that genuinely aim to be comprehensive and all-encompassing, such as large databases, encyclopedias, or vast libraries. Using it for smaller or more focused collections might be an exaggeration.