defective knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"defective knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to knowledge that is imperfect or flawed. Example: His defective knowledge of the law meant he couldn't accurately represent his clients.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The problem is with our defective knowledge of God's nature.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For Arendt opinion is not a defective form of knowledge that should be transcended or left behind as soon as one is in possession of the truth.

SEP

His pragmatic, 'commonsensical attitude' is highlighted in a verse he quotes: 'with respect to everyday practice of the world, the fool and the wise are similar' (see above), because ultimately we all have to rely on our experience and defective and partial knowledge of reality.

SEP

Perhaps an epistemological theory should be "practically useful" in helping us recognize when we do or don't know something (Zagzebski 1996: 267), or help us overcome "anxieties" due to defective presuppositions about knowledge (McDowell 1994, xi), or help us appreciate forms of "epistemic injustice" (Fricker 2007).

SEP

The arrests follow admissions in recent months by Mitsubishi that its managers concealed knowledge about defective cars and trucks even after the company promised to come clean about such problems following a major cover-up scandal four years ago.

The New York Times

Le Roy says, "[Bergson] added with insistence that the defective state of his knowledge of mathematics did not allow him to follow the development of generalized relativity in the detail such a development required.

SEP

And throughout our entire history it is to be hoped that what we have done well may not be the object of envy, and that the matters wherein our knowledge is defective may receive correction at the hands of more able historians.

University of Chicago

Some used the lists with full knowledge that they were defective.

HuffPost

While research errors are as relevant to the knowledge economy as defects are to the manufacturing economy, mechanisms to identify and signal "defective" or false knowledge are poorly understood.

Research Policy

According to the objection, however, the beliefs in question, even if true, could not possibly qualify as knowledge, due to the epistemically defective way they were formed.

SEP

Ichiro Fukumori, managing director of Bridgestone's Thai operations, said he had no knowledge of Ford's sending it defective tires.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defective knowledge", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the knowledge defective. Be specific about the flaws or gaps in understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "defective knowledge" when "limited knowledge" or "incomplete information" is more accurate. "Defective" implies a significant flaw, not just a lack of detail.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defective knowledge" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "defective" modifies the noun "knowledge". It describes a state where one's understanding or information is flawed or deficient. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "defective knowledge" is grammatically correct but rarely used. Ludwig AI indicates that it is appropriate for describing knowledge that is flawed or imperfect. While it appears across various contexts such as science, news, and academia, it's important to use it precisely to indicate a significant flaw in understanding, rather than just a lack of information. Related phrases like "faulty understanding" or "imperfect knowledge" can serve as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faulty understanding

Replaces "knowledge" with "understanding", implying a flawed comprehension.

flawed understanding

Similar to "faulty understanding", emphasizing the presence of flaws in comprehension.

imperfect knowledge

Highlights the lack of perfection in the knowledge, suggesting it is incomplete or inaccurate.

incomplete understanding

Focuses on the lack of completeness in the understanding.

inaccurate information

Shifts the focus to the information itself being incorrect, rather than the state of knowing.

erroneous belief

Replaces "knowledge" with "belief", suggesting a conviction based on incorrect information.

limited awareness

Indicates a restricted scope of understanding.

deficient insight

Highlights the lack of depth in understanding or perception.

weak grasp

Emphasizes the feebleness of one's understanding of a subject.

poor comprehension

Indicates a low level of understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "defective knowledge" in a sentence?

You might say, "His decisions were often misguided due to his "defective knowledge" of financial markets" or "The company's "defective knowledge" of safety regulations led to several accidents."

What are some alternatives to "defective knowledge"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "faulty understanding", "imperfect knowledge", or "incomplete understanding".

What's the difference between "defective knowledge" and "limited knowledge"?

"Defective knowledge" suggests the knowledge is flawed or incorrect, potentially leading to wrong conclusions. "Limited knowledge", on the other hand, simply means there isn't enough information, but the information available might still be accurate.

Is "defective knowledge" a formal or informal phrase?

The phrase "defective knowledge" can be used in both formal and informal settings, although it's more common in analytical or critical contexts where the flaws in understanding are being examined.