have a reasonable knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have a reasonable knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone's level of understanding or familiarity with a subject, indicating that their knowledge is adequate but not extensive. Example: "To apply for this position, you should have a reasonable knowledge of project management principles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He also reported that, while in the company of scientists he would expect them to have a reasonable knowledge of, say, the works of Shakespeare, in the company of those from the humanities he would hardly ever obtain an understanding of the laws of thermodynamics.

The Guardian

If you do receive an interview with the company, it will look great to the interviewer if you have a reasonable knowledge and background of the company.

WikiHow

Do not attempt to walk on a roof if you do not have a reasonable knowledge of what you are doing.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

54.38% (= 1,820/3,347) of the students had a reasonable knowledge of the infectious diseases related to body art (data not shown).

BMC Public Health

Similarly, a decision-maker reported that selection was due to a person's having "a reasonable knowledge of English", albeit, he noted, "they might not have been the right candidates".

Human Resources for Health

Under our present system of medical organization and hospital organization it is a fortunate chance if one of these patients happens to fall into the hands of someone who has a reasonable knowledge of the disease, in a stage early enough to be hopeful for treatment.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

In our study, the majority of the respondents had a reasonable knowledge of related infectious diseases and hygienic norms to be applied in body modifications, considered it important to refer to a certified body art practitioner, would refer to a health-care professional in case of complications.

BMC Public Health

But to be honest I have acquired a reasonable knowledge of the nuances.

Vice

They have a reasonable amount of knowledge on protocol-based management of fevers, diarrhoea and respiratory conditions, but they do not always apply this knowledge and they over-prescribe drugs, particularly in Guntur.

Health Policy and Planning

During the interviews most patients seemed to have a reasonable understanding and knowledge of aspects of healthy living, such as dietary intake and levels of exercise.

BMC Psychiatry

The authors use parameters to characterize each of those diseases from the literature, clearly indicating the cases where the current knowledge is not sufficient to have a reasonable confidence interval for those parameters.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, specify the area in which someone possesses "a reasonable knowledge". For example, "have a reasonable knowledge of project management principles" is more informative than "have a reasonable knowledge."

Common error

Avoid using "have a reasonable knowledge" when describing expertise requiring deep understanding. Instead, opt for phrases like "extensive knowledge" or "expert proficiency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a reasonable knowledge" functions as a verb phrase indicating the possession of a moderate level of understanding or familiarity with a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have a reasonable knowledge" is a versatile phrase used to express a moderate level of understanding of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and commonly used. It appears frequently in news, science, and wiki contexts, indicating its general applicability. For more formal or precise communication, consider alternatives like "possess a fair understanding" or "have a solid grasp". When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the level of expertise being described and that the area of knowledge is clearly specified. Remember to avoid overstating expertise in cases where a deeper understanding is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a decent understanding

Replaces "reasonable" with "decent", maintaining a similar level of understanding.

possess a fair understanding

Replaces "have" with "possess" and "reasonable knowledge" with "fair understanding", offering a more formal tone.

have a solid grasp

Substitutes "reasonable knowledge" with "solid grasp", suggesting a firm but not necessarily expert understanding.

have a basic understanding

Suggests a fundamental, introductory level of knowledge.

have a working knowledge

Replaces "reasonable" with "working", implying enough knowledge to perform tasks effectively.

be conversant with

Uses a more formal and concise expression to indicate familiarity and ability to discuss a topic.

have a moderate familiarity

Substitutes "knowledge" with "familiarity" and "reasonable" with "moderate", emphasizing acquaintance rather than expertise.

be acquainted with

Indicates a basic level of familiarity, suggesting an introduction to the subject matter.

be reasonably familiar with

Rephrases to emphasize the state of being familiar, rather than the possession of knowledge.

have a general awareness of

Indicates a broad, rather than detailed, level of knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "have a reasonable knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "have a reasonable knowledge" to indicate that someone possesses an adequate understanding of a particular subject, but not necessarily an expert level. For example, "To apply for this position, you should "have a reasonable knowledge" of project management principles."

What can I say instead of "have a reasonable knowledge"?

You can use alternatives like "possess a fair understanding", "have a solid grasp", or "have a working knowledge" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "have a reasonable knowledge of" or "have an expert knowledge of"?

The choice depends on the context. "Have a reasonable knowledge of" indicates an adequate understanding, while "have an expert knowledge of" signifies a high level of proficiency.

What's the difference between "have a basic understanding" and "have a reasonable knowledge"?

"Have a basic understanding" suggests a fundamental, introductory level of knowledge, while ""have a reasonable knowledge"" implies a more developed, though not necessarily expert, understanding.