grain of knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grain of knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small amount of knowledge or insight about a particular subject. Example: "Even a grain of knowledge can lead to significant discoveries in science."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"What a life he has led," exulted Morgan Forster, who himself lived past ninety, "and how he has led it!" When he was still at work on "After the Deluge," Leonard Woolf suggested that "even a failure might bring some small ray of light or grain of knowledge," but it was on the last page of the last volume of his memoirs that he could say with sincerity, "There are other assets of old age.

The New Yorker

I was a naïve idealist; aspiring to change the world without even a grain of knowledge of the very bloodline of our society, "the food system".

Huffington Post

In our pixelated moment of awakening, behind all the curiosity and confusion, lay our first and most profound grain of knowledge: there is a spectrum in this world that illuminates the haves and have-nots.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Traditional medicine escapes this image problem, working as it does with the grain of popular knowledge rather than in challenge to it.

BMC Health Services Research

Grain by grain, the scientific beach of knowledge about progeria is growing.

Science Magazine

He took more than a grain of comfort in the knowledge that he could return to the courtroom, sighted or not.

The New York Times

Then he points to his experimental perennial grain crops: "That's the tree of knowledge".

The New York Times

There's Nisaba the Babylonian goddess who looks after the stores of both grain and knowledge in Mesopotamia; the Hindu goddess Saraswati; the Zoroastrian Anahita; the ancient Greek Athena; and the Shinto Omoikane (a fine goddess of holistic thought and multitasking).

The Guardian - Opinion

Barriers to substituting refined grains with whole grains included unfamiliar taste, longer cooking times, lack of knowledge about cooking methods, cost and lack of availability.

Globalization and Health

However, once a full-atomic structure is built from a coarse-grain template, knowledge of tertiary interactions and finer-grained dynamics tools can be used to recover these interactions.

Bioinformatics

Take every use of statistics with a grain of salt and use your knowledge of statistics to come to a decision of your own.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grain of knowledge" to express that even a small piece of information or understanding can be valuable or significant.

Common error

Avoid using "grain of knowledge" when referring to substantial or comprehensive understanding. The phrase is meant to highlight the significance of even minimal insight, not to describe extensive expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grain of knowledge" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as an object or complement in a sentence. It signifies a small but potentially significant piece of information or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grain of knowledge" is a noun phrase signifying a small but valuable piece of information or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, appearing in diverse sources like news media, scientific publications, and wikis. While not exceedingly common, this phrase effectively emphasizes that even minimal insight can be significant. Using "grain of knowledge" allows writers to highlight the potential impact of even the smallest pieces of information, underscoring that even a little knowledge can go a long way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

iota of understanding

Replaces "grain" with "iota" to emphasize a very small amount of understanding.

fragment of insight

Uses "fragment" to indicate a small, incomplete piece of insight, similar to a grain.

nugget of wisdom

Employs "nugget" to suggest a valuable small piece of wisdom, comparable to a grain of knowledge.

spark of awareness

Focuses on the initial moment of understanding, like a spark.

hint of comprehension

Replaces "knowledge" with "comprehension" and uses "hint" to convey a subtle degree of understanding.

iota of information

Replaces "knowledge" with "information" maintaining the small amount.

scrap of learning

Uses "scrap" to indicate a small, perhaps discarded, piece of learning.

glimmer of perception

Suggests a faint or brief moment of perception.

trace of cognition

Emphasizes the mental process of cognition, even in a small amount.

modicum of awareness

Replaces "grain" with "modicum" to indicate a limited quantity of awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "grain of knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "grain of knowledge" to emphasize that even a small amount of understanding can be significant. For example, "Even a "grain of knowledge" about climate change can motivate action."

What phrases are similar to "grain of knowledge"?

Alternatives include "iota of understanding", "fragment of insight", or "nugget of wisdom", all suggesting small but valuable pieces of understanding.

Is it appropriate to use "grain of knowledge" in formal writing?

Yes, "grain of knowledge" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the message you want to convey—the significance of even a small piece of information—rather than the formality of the setting.

What is the difference between "grain of knowledge" and "body of knowledge"?

"Grain of knowledge" refers to a small, individual piece of information or understanding, while "body of knowledge" describes a large, comprehensive collection of information on a particular subject.