conversant with

USAGE SUMMARY

"conversant with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize that someone is very familiar with a subject. For example, "She is very conversant with the applicable laws and regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And fully conversant with circa 2011 web slang.

The Guardian

It's a concept I'm fully conversant with, of course.

The New Yorker

As a Catholic, he was certainly conversant with the Devil.

The Guardian - Books

You should, however, be conversant with modern American art history.

The New York Times - Arts

"They're all conversant with Western culture and Western deal-doing".

The New York Times

She may be a fan, very conversant with the most devoted of her subject's fan sites.

The New York Times - Books

He was conversant with Chinese culture, at least up to a point.

The New York Times - Arts

And no one conversant with the situation believes that the end is in sight.

The New Yorker

The latter group tended to be younger and more conversant with South African political reality.

The New Yorker

"I'm not terribly conversant with children's literature in general," Lowry said.

The New York Times - Magazine

"You also have to be conversant with the new media world.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conversant with" when you want to indicate a strong understanding and familiarity with a specific subject, suggesting the person can discuss it intelligently.

Common error

Avoid using "conversant with" in very informal or casual settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "familiar with" or "knows about" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conversant with" functions as an adjective phrase that describes a state of being knowledgeable or familiar with something. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the extent of their understanding or expertise in a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "conversant with" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate a strong understanding and familiarity with a particular subject. As Ludwig AI notes, it is appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, signaling more than just basic awareness – it implies the ability to discuss and engage with the subject competently. While alternatives like "familiar with" and "knowledgeable about" exist, "conversant with" often carries a nuance of deeper understanding and active engagement. It's frequently encountered in news, academic, and scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

familiar with

Indicates a general awareness and understanding, slightly less emphatic than "conversant with".

knowledgeable about

Directly states the possession of knowledge, a more straightforward alternative to "conversant with".

well-versed in

Emphasizes thorough knowledge and expertise, similar to "conversant with" but with a stronger implication of skill.

well-informed on

Similar to "informed about" but suggests a more comprehensive understanding.

informed about

Highlights the state of being informed, focusing on receiving information rather than possessing expertise.

acquainted with

Suggests a more introductory level of understanding compared to "conversant with".

abreast of

Implies staying up-to-date with current information, adding a temporal dimension absent in "conversant with".

up to speed on

Indicates a quick acquisition of knowledge, suggesting recent learning rather than long-term expertise.

au fait with

A more formal and slightly archaic synonym for "familiar with", less common than "conversant with".

clued up on

A more informal and British English alternative, implying insider knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "conversant with" in a sentence?

You can use "conversant with" to indicate that someone is familiar with a topic. For example, "She is "familiar with" the latest research in the field and is able to discuss it intelligently." Replace "familiar with" with "conversant with".

What's the difference between "conversant with" and "familiar with"?

"Conversant with" suggests a deeper, more active knowledge than "familiar with". While "familiar with" implies a basic understanding, "conversant with" implies the ability to discuss the topic in detail.

What are some alternatives to saying "conversant with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "knowledgeable about", "well-versed in", or "up to speed on" as substitutes for "conversant with".

Is it appropriate to use "conversant with" in formal writing?

Yes, "conversant with" is perfectly appropriate for formal writing. It is a sophisticated way to indicate that someone has a good understanding of a subject. However, avoid it in overly casual contexts where simpler language would be more suitable.