even remotely familiar

USAGE SUMMARY

'even remotely familiar' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it as an adverb phrase to describe something that has at least a small similarity or connection to something else. For example: "The situation didn't seem even remotely familiar to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That ironic ending will be no cliffhanger for anyone even remotely familiar with Henry VIII's trail of carnage.

The New York Times - Books

I thought 120 pages a day would be a doddle; but 120 pages of densely printed Victorian prose, about lives I was not even remotely familiar with, were not.

The Guardian - Opinion

As anyone even remotely familiar with this topic is aware, what Damasio presents here is known as the "James-Lange" theory of emotion, after the two psychologists, William James and Carl G. Lange, who thought of it independently in the 1880's.

The New York Times - Books

Anyone even remotely familiar with federal fiscal realities--most importantly the current fiscal gap of $205 trillion--should be rightly skeptical of the Obamacare promise that the feds will bankroll 90% of the Medicaid expansion in perpetuity.

Forbes

If the mission behind Sightly sounds even remotely familiar, that's because Sightly is actually the re-start of PixelFish, which acted as a sort of beta platform for the company to validate its approach to mobile video marketing.

TechCrunch

If you're even remotely familiar with the Toronto dining scene, you've heard of Agg.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Anyone even remotely exposed to higher education in the past decade is probably familiar with the skyrocketing cost of college textbooks.

Huffington Post

If you are even remotely au fait with the motifs of Sex and the City, the scene will be instantly familiar.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A derivative dead end that pushes familiar genre themes way past absurdity, "True Romance" is anything but truthful and not even remotely romantic.

Los Angeles Times

But Zucker, who never thought the episode was even remotely necessary, with all the numbers showing that Americans were flocking back with relief to the safety of their belovedly familiar TV worlds, and yet obliged him anyway, shushes him.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not even remotely.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "even remotely familiar", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the subject is being compared to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "even remotely familiar" when there is absolutely no connection or resemblance. This can create confusion and undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even remotely familiar" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "familiar". It indicates that something possesses a very slight degree of recognizability or acquaintance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "even remotely familiar" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating a slight degree of recognition or acquaintance. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and generally used in neutral contexts, primarily within news and media. While the phrase isn't exceedingly common, its usage is well-established and understood. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure context and intent are clear, and that the degree of familiarity is not overstated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not entirely unfamiliar with

Expresses a partial level of recognition or awareness, suggesting a subdued connection in comparison.

slightly acquainted with

Emphasizes a minimal level of knowledge or awareness, suggesting a less intense connection than "even remotely familiar".

superficially acquainted with

Highlights a surface-level awareness, underscoring a less intense connection.

vaguely aware of

Focuses on a faint or indistinct understanding, indicating a weaker connection than the original phrase.

peripherally aware of

Indicates awareness of something at the edge of one's attention, suggesting a loose, tangential connection.

somewhat conversant with

Highlights a basic level of understanding or fluency, implying more knowledge than the original phrase suggests.

distantly related to

Highlights a connection that is not direct or obvious, focusing on a weak, indirect association.

scarcely knowledgeable about

Emphasizes a limited understanding or expertise, stressing a minimal link.

hardly any knowledge of

Indicates a scarcity of information or understanding, emphasizing a limited connection.

barely cognizant of

Emphasizes a very slight or minimal awareness, stressing a negligible link.

FAQs

How can I use "even remotely familiar" in a sentence?

You can use "even remotely familiar" to indicate a slight degree of recognition or knowledge. For example: "The topic didn't seem "even remotely familiar" to the students."

What's a less formal way to say "even remotely familiar"?

Informally, you could say "slightly familiar with" or "vaguely aware of" as alternatives to ""even remotely familiar"".

Which is more appropriate, "even remotely familiar" or "thoroughly familiar"?

"Even remotely familiar" suggests a slight acquaintance, while "thoroughly familiar" indicates a comprehensive understanding. The choice depends on the degree of familiarity you wish to convey.

What can I say instead of "I'm not even remotely familiar with that"?

Alternatives include "I'm completely unfamiliar with that", "I have no knowledge of that", or "That's entirely new to me" instead of saying "I'm "even remotely familiar" with that".