have a working knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have a working knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has a practical understanding or familiarity with a subject or skill, but may not be an expert. Example: "Although she is not a professional chef, she has a working knowledge of various cooking techniques that she learned from her grandmother."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

On some of our jobs in the Americas you need to have a working knowledge of Spanish.

The Guardian - Money

I always make sure I eat something and have a working knowledge of what happened in sports that day.

The New York Times - Magazine

I think I would like to be really connected, and at least have a working knowledge of how to tell stories, and I dare say even entertain.

The New York Times

Originally our pairing tests were done entirely in Java and we often expected candidates to have a working knowledge of Java prior to joining.

The Guardian

While Vastera's customers say the software has helped streamline their compliance procedures, they caution that users must still have a working knowledge of trade laws and restrictions.

The New York Times

He expects you to recognise the subdominant of the subdominant, have a working knowledge of Caravaggio, Rubens and Rembrandt and be able to differentiate your hypotyposis from your pathopoeia, your vollkommenheit from your vollstimmigkeit.

The Guardian - Books

In that book, the authors argue that kindergartners should be able to identify the plants in a playground, fourth graders should have a working knowledge of the French and Indian War and eighth graders should know how to graph the equation y = -1/2x + 4.

The New York Times

You'll have a working knowledge of how diseases develop and how this affects the function of the body, as well as being able to identify risks –if you spray a field with a certain chemical, could it damage eyesight, for example – and how they can be prevented.

The Guardian

On the one hand, this kinship helps explain why writers with divergent sensibilities often read one another's work with surprising compassion and skill; on the other, it also explains why certain factions in the poetry world loathe each other nearly as much as "Star Wars" fanatics despise people who have a working knowledge of Klingon.

The New York Times - Books

You needn't have gained your recruitment experience in HE, but you do need to have worked for a large organisation, have a working knowledge of south east and east Asia and be aware of the current challenges and opportunities in internationalisation in HE.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

All staff are required to have a working knowledge of STEM learning and experience in teaching and facilitation techniques and working within target communities and managing teams.

International Journal of STEM Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing required skills for a job, use "have a working knowledge" to indicate that candidates should possess enough understanding to perform tasks effectively without necessarily being experts.

Common error

Avoid using "have a working knowledge" when you actually mean expert-level proficiency. This phrase implies a practical but not necessarily comprehensive understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a working knowledge" functions as a verb phrase indicating the possession of a practical understanding or familiarity with a subject or skill. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples show it specifying skill requirements or levels of expertise.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have a working knowledge" is a versatile phrase used to describe a practical understanding or basic competence in a subject or skill. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and broad applicability. It's frequently found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a formal yet accessible tone. To convey similar meanings, consider alternatives such as "possess a practical understanding" or "have a basic grasp", but avoid using it when expert-level proficiency is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a working understanding

Synonymous, focuses on comprehension rather than practical skill.

have a functional understanding

Highlights the ability to use the knowledge effectively.

possess a practical understanding

Emphasizes the practical aspect of the knowledge, suggesting hands-on experience.

have a solid grounding in

Implies a firm and well-established base of knowledge.

have a basic grasp

Indicates a foundational understanding, perhaps less detailed than "working knowledge".

have competence in

Highlights the ability to perform tasks effectively.

be familiar with

Suggests acquaintance with the subject, possibly without deep expertise.

be conversant with

Implies being able to discuss a topic intelligently, often used in formal contexts.

have a rudimentary understanding

Suggests a very basic and initial level of comprehension.

have experience with

Focuses more on hands-on exposure and less on theoretical knowledge.

FAQs

How do you use "have a working knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "have a working knowledge" to describe someone's familiarity and practical understanding of a subject or skill. For instance, "The job requires that you "have a working knowledge" of accounting principles."

What's the difference between "have a working knowledge" and "be an expert in"?

"Have a working knowledge" indicates a practical understanding sufficient for basic tasks, while "be an expert in" implies comprehensive and specialized knowledge. Someone who "has a working knowledge" can apply the basics; an expert has mastery.

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

You can use alternatives like "possess a practical understanding", "have a basic grasp", or "be familiar with" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "have a working knowledge of" or "have working knowledge in"?

The correct preposition is "of". Therefore, "have a working knowledge of" is the grammatically correct and preferred usage. "Have working knowledge in" is less common and may sound awkward.