familiarized themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "familiarized themselves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the process of someone becoming acquainted or knowledgeable about something. Example: "Before starting the project, the team familiarized themselves with the new software to ensure a smooth transition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The more teams familiarized themselves with Manuel, the more enamored they became.

The New York Times - Sports

Without much else to do, they familiarized themselves with the foreign names playing for coming opponents of the American team.

The New York Times - Sports

"Not only have they familiarized themselves with the trade, but they will have the classroom experience too," he said.

The New York Times

Federal officials have familiarized themselves with the ID verification system the United Nations has in place for the more than 3,000 employees who work in the building.

The New York Times

As part of the alleged conspiracy, the Detroit-area men worked at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and familiarized themselves with its security procedures, the indictment said.

The New York Times

In short order, the suspects told the detectives they wanted to do business somewhere else, forcing the detectives off the so-called set of their undercover operation, the terrain where they had arranged surveillance and familiarized themselves with the surroundings.

The New York Times

But hearing them all do Haggard's right wing anthem "Oakie from Muscogee" is a nice enough moment, but we wonder if anyone in the audience has actually familiarized themselves with the lyrics.

The Guardian - Music

If anything they were Conmebol'd – knocked out by a team who had familiarized themselves with each other and forged themselves in punching-above-their-weight matchplay in the Copa America.

The Guardian - Sport

They have attended a one-hour training class on anthrax and other biological weapons and familiarized themselves with the full-face respirators that the department is now considering supplying to every officer, at a total cost of more than $6,000.

The New York Times

This is a great name for a pop detective, healthfully cheesy, all-American in its audacity; the size of it is appropriate to a show tasked with showing how the people who invented the phrase serial killer familiarized themselves with that category of people.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

People prepare themselves for its terrors by familiarizing themselves with gigantic images".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context makes it clear what the subject is becoming familiar with to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "familiarized themselves" in situations where simpler alternatives like "learned" or "found out" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "familiarized themselves" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, indicating that the subjects performed the action of becoming familiar on themselves. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "familiarized themselves" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that signifies the act of becoming knowledgeable or acquainted with something. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what the subjects are learning and consider simpler alternatives like "learned" or "found out" when appropriate. This guide provides a complete overview of the phrase's usage, alternatives, and best practices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquainted themselves

Focuses on the initial stage of getting to know something.

made themselves familiar

Highlights the active effort of becoming knowledgeable.

got acquainted

Implies a casual or informal introduction.

informed themselves

Stresses the gathering of information.

oriented themselves

Suggests adjusting to a new environment or situation.

educated themselves

Implies a more thorough and formal learning process.

became conversant

Emphasizes gaining expertise or skill.

got up to speed

Indicates catching up with the current state of knowledge or progress.

briefed themselves

Suggests quickly gaining essential information.

learned the ropes

Refers specifically to learning the basics of a task or system.

FAQs

How can I use "familiarized themselves" in a sentence?

You can use "familiarized themselves" to describe how a group of people became knowledgeable about a specific topic or process. For instance, "The team "familiarized themselves" with the new software before the training session."

What's a good alternative to "familiarized themselves"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "acquainted themselves", "learned about", or "became familiar with" instead of "familiarized themselves".

Is it correct to say "familiarized them with" instead of "familiarized themselves with"?

While "familiarized themselves with" indicates a reflexive action, "familiarized them with" suggests that someone else introduced them to something. The choice depends on whether the subjects learned on their own or were instructed.

What is the difference between ""familiarized themselves"" and "acquainted themselves"?

"Familiarized themselves" implies a deeper understanding and knowledge acquisition, while "acquainted themselves" suggests a more initial or superficial introduction.