familiar to many

USAGE SUMMARY

"familiar to many" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that a lot of people know or have experienced. For example, "The story of Romeo and Juliet is familiar to many."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This thinking was familiar to many readers.

The New York Times - Magazine

It will be familiar to many.

The New York Times - Arts

That Darwinian process is familiar to many.

The New York Times

These are challenges familiar to many industries.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a situation familiar to many communities these days.

The New York Times

The debates will be familiar to many of us.

The Guardian

Far less familiar to many viewers, though, are the sculptures.

The New York Times - Arts

It's a feeling that's familiar to many new academics.

The Guardian

TalkSport's voices will be familiar to many listeners.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Ayala-Cornejo's case is familiar to many illegal immigrants.

The New York Times

Deaths like Ms. Hyman's are achingly familiar to many people.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "familiar to many" when you want to indicate that a concept, situation, or experience is widely known or commonly encountered. It's suitable for establishing common ground with your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "familiar to many" with overly broad or undefined subjects. Ensure that what you're claiming is familiar is specific and easily understood by your intended audience. For example, instead of saying 'the situation is familiar to many', specify 'the challenges of remote work are familiar to many'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "familiar to many" functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is known or experienced by a significant number of people. Ludwig AI confirms its common and correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "familiar to many" is a versatile and commonly used expression for indicating that something is widely known or experienced. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news media and academic writing to general conversation. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject is specific and easily understood by your intended audience. Alternatives such as "well-known to many" or "common knowledge to many" can provide similar meanings with slight nuances. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively employ "familiar to many" to establish common ground and convey the widespread nature of a topic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well-known to many

Replaces "familiar" with "well-known", emphasizing broad recognition.

common knowledge to many

Highlights that the subject is generally understood or accepted.

widely recognized by many

Focuses on the widespread acknowledgement of something.

generally known among many

Similar to "common knowledge" but with a slightly different emphasis.

not unfamiliar to many

Uses a double negative to convey familiarity, which can add emphasis or nuance.

a common experience for many

Emphasizes that something is a shared or typical experience.

many are acquainted with

Highlights personal knowledge or experience.

widely understood by many

Focuses on the comprehension aspect of the subject.

a frequent occurrence for many

Indicates that something happens often to a large group of people.

within the ken of many

Uses a more formal or literary term for "knowledge".

FAQs

How can I use "familiar to many" in a sentence?

Use "familiar to many" to indicate that something is widely known or experienced. For example, "The challenges of adapting to a new culture are "familiar to many" immigrants".

What's a good alternative to "familiar to many"?

Alternatives include "well-known to many", "common knowledge to many", or "widely recognized by many", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "familiar by many" instead of "familiar to many"?

No, the correct and idiomatic expression is "familiar to many". "Familiar by many" is not standard English.

What is the difference between "familiar to many" and "familiar to some"?

"Familiar to many" implies that a large number of people are acquainted with something, while "familiar to some" suggests that only a limited number of people know about it. The choice depends on the extent of awareness you want to convey.