has an extensive knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has an extensive knowledge" is not correct in standard English; it should be "has extensive knowledge." You can use it when describing someone who possesses a broad and deep understanding of a particular subject or field.
Example: "She has extensive knowledge of environmental science, which makes her an invaluable asset to our research team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

He also has an extensive knowledge of music beyond the standard repertory.

The Guardian - Books

Bloomfield, who has an extensive knowledge of botany and husbandry, started asking Boggs about his vegetables.

The New Yorker

Mr. Hild might be the rare person who has an extensive knowledge of electronics recycling.

The New York Times

She has an extensive knowledge of Istanbul hotels and restaurants, and ways to keep small children busy in the city.

The Guardian - Travel

He has an extensive knowledge of fish and he knows where to get things on short notice.

The New York Times

If I write a work for the stage I certainly won't write it for star-fanciers; I shall be thinking of a public that has an extensive knowledge of the theatre".

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She had an extensive knowledge of art and antiquities from cultures all over the world.

The New York Times

He was a muscular, soft-spoken man, with steady eyes, who rarely minced words and had an extensive knowledge of the drug business.

The New York Times

The software appears to have an extensive knowledge of Mills & Boon-style novellas but zero grasp of 1980s feminism and the Greenham Common women's peace camp.

The Guardian

When Browning started his research, he was most surprised to discover that most of the community members didn't have an extensive knowledge of how vampires are portrayed in popular culture.

Independent

The Maasai have an extensive knowledge in areas of ethnosciences, including ethnobotany, ethnopharmacy and ethnotoxicity, in addition to animal husbandry and veterinary medicine (Ole-Lengisugi 1994; Minja 1999).

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's expertise, use the grammatically correct phrase "has extensive knowledge" without the article "an."

Common error

The phrase "has an extensive knowledge" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "has extensive knowledge." Using the article "an" is a common mistake that should be avoided to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, although grammatically incorrect, functions as a descriptor of expertise or understanding. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is non-standard, the more correct version being "has extensive knowledge".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "has an extensive knowledge" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "has extensive knowledge." Ludwig AI confirms that it is better to use the correct version. When aiming for precision, especially in formal writing, it's crucial to omit the article "an" before "extensive." The phrase is generally used to describe someone's comprehensive understanding within news, scientific and academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has a deep understanding of

Substitutes "extensive knowledge" for "a deep understanding of", emphasizing depth over breadth.

is highly knowledgeable in

Replaces "has an extensive knowledge" with "is highly knowledgeable in", changing the structure to an adjectival phrase.

is well-versed in

A more concise way of saying someone "has extensive knowledge" in a particular area.

possesses comprehensive expertise

Replaces "has" with "possesses" and "extensive knowledge" with "comprehensive expertise" to sound more formal.

exhibits broad understanding

Replaces "has" with "exhibits" and "extensive knowledge" with "broad understanding" to focus on comprehension.

demonstrates considerable proficiency

Uses "demonstrates" instead of "has" and replaces "extensive knowledge" with "considerable proficiency" to highlight the visible skill.

commands significant expertise

Uses "commands" to suggest mastery, replacing "has" and "extensive knowledge" with "significant expertise".

maintains profound insight into

Emphasizes the depth of understanding with "profound insight" instead of "extensive knowledge".

possesses a wealth of information

Focuses on the amount of information known, rather than just knowledge.

has mastered the intricacies of

Highlights the mastery of details within a subject instead of general knowledge.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say someone is knowledgeable?

The correct way is to say someone "has extensive knowledge", without the article "an". Using the article "an" before "extensive" is a common grammatical error.

What can I say instead of "has extensive knowledge"?

You can use alternatives like "is highly knowledgeable in", "has a deep understanding of", or "is well-versed in" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "has extensive knowledge" or "has an extensive knowledge"?

"Has extensive knowledge" is correct. The inclusion of "an" before "extensive" is grammatically incorrect.

Is "has extensive knowledge" formal or informal?

"Has extensive knowledge" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "possesses comprehensive expertise" may be more appropriate for very formal settings.