fragmentary knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"fragmentary knowledge" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to information that is incomplete or insufficient, or when you are referring to knowledge that is based on pieces of incomplete information. For example: "The report was based on fragmentary knowledge, making it unreliable and difficult to use."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Mr. Geragos said, based on his fragmentary knowledge of the identity of Mr. Jackson's accuser and the accuser's account, "I'm not so sure there's even going to be a charging document".

The New York Times

They possess the unsettling intensity of Benjy's interior monologue in Faulkner's "Sound and the Fury," immersing the reader in the slip-sliding world of a child's imagination, a world at once egocentric and rudderless, a world of bright, shimmering sensations and fragmentary knowledge.

The New York Times - Books

Correction: In John Seabrook's "Fragmentary Knowledge," an account of how an early-Byzantine sundial calendar came to London's Science Museum indicates that the man who brought it to the museum met with Michael Wright, a curator of mechanical engineering there; in fact, it was another member of the museum staff, J. V. Field, who met with the man and later showed the instrument to Wright.

The New Yorker

Undergraduate university students have only a fragmentary knowledge about effective learning strategies.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Undergraduate university students have only a fragmentary knowledge about effective learning strategies (Bjork, Dunlosky, & Kornell, 2013; Karpicke, Butler, & Roediger, 2009; Putnam, Sunkhasattee, & Roediger, 2016).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

One factor that may limit the exploitation of this potential is the still rather fragmentary knowledge of basic biological and endocrine traits of zebrafish.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

We learn again and again how fragmentary our knowledge is, how much interpretation has changed, how new techniques are used, how much more is yet to be discovered.

The New York Times - Arts

These findings further illustrate how fragmentary our knowledge still is in respect to the mechanisms regulating Gab phosphorylation.

Cell Communication and Signaling

While no single rodent model can address all aspects of human breast cancer, different experimental models provide complementary findings to decipher the heterogeneity of established but fragmentary pathophysiological knowledge currently available.

Breast Cancer Research

More likely newly identified competencies will add new dimensionality to the traditional ones, as has happened when print literacy was expanded to "multiliteracy" and recently to "transliteracy," which includes not only ability to utilize diverse information sources but to synthesize coherent knowledge from fragmentary information thus obtained (Liu [2012]; Scardamalia & Bereiter in press-a).

Smart Learning Environments

Most were quite fragmentary, but they expanded knowledge of the giant predator's geographic range.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing research limitations, use "fragmentary knowledge" to acknowledge gaps in existing data. For example, state: "Due to the fragmentary knowledge in this area, further research is required."

Common error

Avoid using "fragmentary knowledge" when you actually mean a preliminary or initial understanding. "Fragmentary knowledge" implies that the existing knowledge is broken or in pieces, not simply at an early stage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fragmentary knowledge" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "fragmentary" modifies the noun "knowledge". This phrase is typically used to describe a state of understanding that is incomplete, disjointed, or based on insufficient information. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

26%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fragmentary knowledge" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe incomplete or insufficient understanding. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's appropriate to use when acknowledging limitations in data or current understanding. Its usage is prevalent in science, news and media, and business contexts. Related phrases include "incomplete knowledge" and "patchy knowledge". When writing, be careful to avoid using it when you simply mean a preliminary understanding. This phrase is commonly used in scientific articles, academic papers, and formal reports.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incomplete knowledge

Directly states that the knowledge is not whole or finished.

fragmentary information

Shifts the focus from knowledge to the underlying information being incomplete.

fragmentary understanding

Replaces "knowledge" with "understanding", emphasizing comprehension.

sporadic knowledge

Focuses on the inconsistent or infrequent nature of the knowledge.

patchy knowledge

Highlights the uneven distribution and gaps in the knowledge.

sparse knowledge

Underscores the limited quantity of knowledge available.

anecdotal knowledge

Emphasizes that the knowledge is based on personal accounts rather than systematic evidence.

scant information

Emphasizes the lack of sufficient detail of the knowledge.

limited awareness

Replaces "knowledge" with "awareness", focusing on the state of being informed.

superficial grasp

Emphasizes a lack of deep understanding or expertise on the topic.

FAQs

How can I use "fragmentary knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "fragmentary knowledge" to describe a situation where information is incomplete or insufficient. For example: "Our understanding of the long-term effects is based on "fragmentary knowledge"."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "fragmentary knowledge"?

Alternatives to "fragmentary knowledge" include "incomplete knowledge", "patchy knowledge", or "limited awareness", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "fragmentary knowledge" or "limited knowledge"?

Both "fragmentary knowledge" and "limited knowledge" are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Fragmentary knowledge" emphasizes that the knowledge is broken or in pieces, while "limited knowledge" simply suggests a lack of comprehensive understanding.

How does "fragmentary knowledge" differ from "preliminary understanding"?

"Fragmentary knowledge" implies a scattered or incomplete set of facts, while "preliminary understanding" suggests an early stage of comprehension that is still developing.