distant knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"distant knowledge" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to knowledge or information that is far removed from someone's personal experience or understanding. Example: Despite their advanced education, the explorers were unprepared for the challenges they faced in the remote wilderness and had to rely on their distant knowledge of survival skills to make it through.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This study compares the university spillover effect of two types of knowledge, localized knowledge from domestic collaboration and distant knowledge from international collaboration, and investigates their spillover effect on local firms' innovation.

Research Policy

In addition, we find that an intermediate level of recombination – formed by a combination of components from local, adjacent and distant knowledge domains – carries the highest level of technological impact of all types of inventions.

Research Policy

We further show that the ability to exploit spatially distant knowledge depends not only on idiosyncrasies specific to the MNE, but also on exogenous forces associated with international variations in appropriability regimes and industry-specific technological opportunities.

Research Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Toby: Isn't the future of libraries dependent on not having gatekeepers who are scary, on libraries not looking ancient, and not being about distant, old knowledge?

The Guardian - Books

Chris Fox, an 18-year-old senior at Parkway South here, said that because the attacks were distant, his knowledge of them mostly came from television and so seemed somehow unreal.

The New York Times

Jonathan Mazower, who is the advocacy director for Survival International in London, explained, "The Mayoruna whom McIntyre met would have had, in their not-so-distant memory, knowledge of what contact was likely to mean, though it would have been unusual to see a white man alone.

The New Yorker

We find robust support for the proposition that socially proximate actors have the greatest advantage over distant actors for knowledge of moderate complexity.

Research Policy

Spouses with relatively distant (non-redundant) knowledge are less likely to divorce, even if both of them work instead of fully availing themselves of specialization.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Instead, it's those "more distant pockets of knowledge," the people who they know who might know of someone or something that could help you in your search.

BBC

Professors may also appear more distant due to knowledge level and age differences, which may limit the interactions they have with students (Anderson and Carta-Falsa, 2002).

CBE Life Sciences Education

As the monitoring information and management interventions are necessarily the result of collaboration between scientists and managers, it is clear that the role of scientific experts in these processes changes from distant providers of knowledge to much more engaged roles of facilitators, brokers or participatory experts (Roux et al. 2006; Turnhout et al. 2013a).

Biodiversity and Conservation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "distant knowledge", ensure that the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to knowledge that is geographically, temporally, or conceptually distant. Provide enough context for the reader to understand the specific type of distance you're highlighting.

Common error

Avoid using "distant knowledge" in contexts where the knowledge is simply unfamiliar or uninteresting to the audience. The term implies a genuine separation, not just a lack of personal engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distant knowledge" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "distant" modifies the noun "knowledge". Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in English. It typically describes knowledge that is far removed from immediate experience or easy access.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

33%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distant knowledge" refers to knowledge that is far removed, whether geographically, temporally, or conceptually, and functions as a noun phrase where 'distant' is an adjective modifying 'knowledge'. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that this phrase is valid and usable, although its frequency is rare. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When writing, be sure to provide enough context to clarify the specific type of distance you intend to convey and to avoid overgeneralizing the term. Alternatives such as "remote knowledge" or "esoteric knowledge" may be suitable depending on the nuance you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Remote knowledge

Emphasizes the inaccessibility or far-removed nature of the knowledge.

Unattainable knowledge

Focuses on the difficulty or impossibility of acquiring the knowledge.

Inaccessible information

Highlights the lack of access to specific information.

Esoteric knowledge

Suggests that the knowledge is specialized and understood by a select few.

Obscure knowledge

Implies the knowledge is vague, unclear, or not well-known.

Historical knowledge

Specifies knowledge related to the past, which can feel distant.

Theoretical knowledge

Indicates knowledge that is abstract and not based on practical experience.

Academic knowledge

Points to knowledge acquired through formal education and study.

Specialized knowledge

Implies knowledge is concentrated in a particular area and not widely held.

Abstract understanding

Suggests a conceptual grasp that is removed from concrete details.

FAQs

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

You can use "distant knowledge" to describe expertise about things far removed from everyday experience. For example: "Her research involved applying her distant knowledge of ancient civilizations to modern-day problems".

What is the difference between "historical knowledge" and "distant knowledge"?

"Historical knowledge" specifically refers to information about the past, whereas "distant knowledge" can refer to knowledge that is geographically, temporally, or conceptually remote.

What are some synonyms for "distant knowledge"?

Alternatives to "distant knowledge" include "remote knowledge", "esoteric knowledge", or "obscure knowledge", each emphasizing a different aspect of the knowledge being far removed.

In what contexts is "distant knowledge" most appropriately used?

"Distant knowledge" is best used in academic, scientific, or historical contexts where the knowledge being discussed is not commonly known or easily accessible to the general public.