even knowing that

USAGE SUMMARY

"even knowing that" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to introduce a clause that adds a surprising or unexpected detail to a sentence. Here is an example: "I couldn't believe she still went through with the plan, even knowing that it could ruin her career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Imagine my not even knowing that".

The New Yorker

We do, even knowing that nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

The New York Times

Even knowing that Alan's renounced it, I want to see V For Vendetta.

The Guardian - Film

"It slumps to death without even knowing that life is departing.

The New York Times

But even knowing that, the question of what makes a good death feels important, even urgent.

The Guardian - Books

Mrs. Clinton denies any responsibility for the president's commutation decision and denies even knowing that commutation would be discussed.

The New York Times

Yet, even knowing that, hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom broke the law for a living, put their faith in the system.

The New Yorker

Mourning what one didn't realise one quite had, or even knowing that one did, involves a process of forgetting and then remembering.

The Guardian

I might be building something here, not even knowing that Paul is building something over here.

Journal of Organization Design

Even knowing that overhead should not be an important factor in a donation decision, "I feel the same as our subjects do.

Science Magazine

By success I mean the business units of the company being able to do their jobs without even knowing that IT exists.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your context. While generally acceptable, in highly formal writing, "notwithstanding the fact that" might offer a more sophisticated alternative.

Common error

Avoid using "even knowing that" when there is no clear contrast or unexpected element. If the following clause naturally follows from the known fact, a simpler conjunction like "because" or "since" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even knowing that" functions as a concessive connector, linking two clauses where the second clause presents a situation that is surprising or unexpected in light of the information presented in the first clause. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to introduce such contrasting information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "even knowing that" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that serves as a concessive connector, indicating a contrast or unexpected outcome despite awareness of a particular fact. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across diverse sources, including news media, scientific publications, and formal business documents. The phrase conveys a sense of surprise or deliberate disregard for potential consequences. When using "even knowing that", ensure a clear contrasting element exists to emphasize the unexpected outcome. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives like "notwithstanding the fact that" may be appropriate for certain writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite being aware that

Emphasizes awareness as a starting point, downplaying the surprise element.

in spite of the knowledge that

Highlights the existence of knowledge that would suggest a different outcome.

even though aware that

Replaces 'knowing' with 'aware' while maintaining the concessive relationship.

notwithstanding the fact that

More formal and emphasizes the contrast despite the given fact.

realizing that nevertheless

Adds emphasis to the realization but continues with the contrast.

aware of that, still

Shorter and more direct, showing the awareness and the resulting action.

with full awareness that

Highlights the complete understanding of something.

conscious of the fact that

Stresses awareness as being fully informed.

understanding that yet

Stresses the understanding, setting up the contrast.

despite understanding that

Directly contrasts the understanding with the resulting action.

FAQs

How can I use "even knowing that" in a sentence?

Use "even knowing that" to introduce a clause that contrasts with what someone might expect, given the preceding information. For example, "She decided to invest in the company, "even knowing that" it was high-risk."

What can I say instead of "even knowing that"?

You can use alternatives like "despite being aware that", "in spite of the knowledge that", or "notwithstanding the fact that", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it always necessary to include "that" after "even knowing"?

While grammatically correct, the "that" in "even knowing that" can sometimes be omitted in informal contexts without significantly altering the meaning. However, including "that" often improves clarity, especially in more complex sentences.

How does "even knowing that" differ from "knowing that"?

"Knowing that" simply indicates awareness of a fact. "Even knowing that" introduces a sense of surprise or contradiction, suggesting that the subsequent action or situation is unexpected given the knowledge. In other words it expresses awareness of something while introducing contrast.