familiarity with something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "familiarity with something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's knowledge or experience regarding a particular subject or object. Example: "Her familiarity with the software made her the ideal candidate for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The name "Salon Selectives" might sound familiar to them, so the strategy must balance that familiarity with something that makes the product seem fresh and novel.

The New York Times - Magazine

Kim enhances understandability by leveraging a patient's familiarity with something they already know.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's that sense of familiarity that I wanted to capture, when someone is familiar with something, they'd find it easier to read into my work".

Vice

It's that sense of familiarity that I wanted to capture; when someone is familiar with something, they find it easier to read into my work".

Vice

It takes a skilled filmmaker with a deep connection to the nature of storytelling to create something that twists our familiarity with movies into something original.

Huffington Post

Reporting today in the journal Flavour, researchers chalk up the reason to familiarity: When confronted with something unexpected an odd color or weight our brains translate an odd experience into an unpleasant one.

Science Magazine

Most things in the world I do not understand, but the history of our political arrangements I have a pretty considerable familiarity with, so if something is puzzling to me, it's usually going to be fun to find out about and fun to explain, and people are likely to be interested in it, and surprised, too.

Harvard University

To the second of these, "Heroin" by the Velvet Underground, Clark greets his demons with something like jaunty familiarity, as long-term company member Kate Coyne takes the stage in a costume stuck with hypodermic syringes.

The Guardian

The excitement of something new, mixed with the familiarity of something old, makes this tradition a comfy, cozy keeper.

Huffington Post

Our study results may have been biased by the long term use of the equipment by the examiners in this study and as such the results may say something about familiarity with the equipment.

Plosone

Generally, familiarity has something to do with whether what an expression is being used to talk about is familiar or salient to the audience being addressed.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "familiarity with something", ensure the 'something' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "He has familiarity," specify "He has familiarity with the programming language."

Common error

Avoid exaggerating your level of "familiarity with something". Be honest about your actual level of expertise to maintain credibility. For example, instead of claiming "complete familiarity", use terms like "basic familiarity" or "working knowledge" if more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "familiarity with something" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It indicates a state of being acquainted with or knowledgeable about a particular subject or object. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

35%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "familiarity with something" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates a level of awareness, knowledge, or experience with a particular subject or object. While Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity, its frequency is uncommon. The phrase appears most often in news articles, academic papers, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure the object of familiarity is clearly defined and avoid overstating your level of expertise. Alternatives include "acquaintance with something", "knowledge of something", and "experience with something", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquaintance with something

Replaces "familiarity" with a slightly less intense term, suggesting a basic level of awareness rather than deep understanding.

knowledge of something

Focuses on the cognitive aspect, emphasizing understanding and information rather than experiential familiarity.

experience with something

Highlights practical involvement and exposure, suggesting hands-on understanding rather than theoretical knowledge.

understanding of something

Emphasizes comprehension and insight, implying a deeper cognitive grasp of the subject.

awareness of something

Indicates a basic recognition or consciousness of the subject, without necessarily implying detailed knowledge.

conversant with something

Implies a comfortable and informed understanding, suggesting the ability to discuss the subject intelligently.

well-versed in something

Suggests extensive knowledge and expertise, indicating a high level of proficiency.

proficient in something

Highlights skill and competence, implying the ability to perform effectively in relation to the subject.

expertise in something

Indicates specialized knowledge and skill, suggesting a high level of mastery in a particular area.

exposure to something

Focuses on having been introduced to or subjected to the subject, without necessarily implying deep understanding or skill.

FAQs

How can I use "familiarity with something" in a sentence?

You can use "familiarity with something" to indicate knowledge or experience. For example: "Her "familiarity with the software" made her an ideal candidate."

What are some alternatives to "familiarity with something"?

Alternatives include "acquaintance with something", "knowledge of something", or "experience with something", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "familiarity of something" or "familiarity with something"?

"Familiarity with something" is the correct and standard usage. "Familiarity of something" is grammatically incorrect.

How does "familiarity with something" differ from "expertise in something"?

"Familiarity with something" implies a general awareness or understanding, while "expertise in something" suggests a high level of skill and specialized knowledge.