have prior knowledge of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have prior knowledge of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone’s existing understanding or awareness of a particular subject or topic before a specific event or situation. Example: "Candidates must have prior knowledge of the subject matter to be considered for the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Soas didn't have prior knowledge of the Borders Agency raid, he says, a point that UCU disputes.

Independent

And it would be no consolation to the former Scotland midfielder that he would have prior knowledge of the bullying ruthlessness that would bring Celtic a handful of goals from five scorers.

The Guardian - Sport

A commission of inquiry eventually found that although Sharon did not have prior knowledge of it, he should have foreseen its likelihood when he agreed to send the Phalangists into the refugee camps.

The New Yorker

The enterprise systems must have prior knowledge of the characteristics of all their client computers.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In general, for NR quality assessment, it helps to have prior knowledge of the expected degradation process on the image.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Those of us who did have prior knowledge of the fund urged that it be renamed to avoid the appearance of conflict.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

So far, they have not found anyone who had prior knowledge of the attacks, they said.

The New York Times

From my experience, royal courtiers would have had prior knowledge of the Spanish visit.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is not clear if any of those other people had prior knowledge of the plot.

The New York Times

Siraj Ali and Wahbi Mohammed are also convicted of having prior knowledge of the July 21 plot.

The Guardian

The news agencies deny having prior knowledge of the incident in Tiananmen Square on Jan . 23

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have prior knowledge of", ensure the context clearly indicates the source and extent of the prior knowledge. For example, specify if the knowledge is based on experience, education, or insider information.

Common error

Avoid assuming that your audience "has prior knowledge of" a subject without providing sufficient context or background information. Always assess the reader's likely level of understanding and provide necessary explanations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have prior knowledge of" functions as a verb phrase indicating possession of pre-existing information or understanding. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It modifies a noun or pronoun, specifying that the subject already possesses information about something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have prior knowledge of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing pre-existing awareness or understanding. It is commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the source and scope of the prior knowledge to avoid assumptions and maintain effective communication. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides ample examples of its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possess previous understanding of

Replaces 'knowledge' with 'understanding' and 'prior' with 'previous', slightly altering the nuance.

be already familiar with

Highlights pre-existing familiarity with a topic.

have advance awareness of

Substitutes 'knowledge' with 'awareness', highlighting a general consciousness.

be previously acquainted with

Emphasizes familiarity rather than explicit knowledge.

know in advance about

More direct and less formal phrasing emphasizing foreknowledge.

be informed beforehand about

Focuses on the act of receiving information in advance.

have preliminary insight into

Focuses on having an initial understanding or perception.

have a background in

Suggests a foundational level of knowledge or experience.

have insider information on

Implies access to privileged or non-public information.

be privy to

Suggests confidential or exclusive prior awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "have prior knowledge of" in a sentence?

You can use "have prior knowledge of" to indicate that someone possesses existing understanding or awareness of a particular subject before a specific event or situation. For example: "Candidates must have prior knowledge of the subject matter to be considered for the position."

What are some alternatives to "have prior knowledge of"?

Alternatives include "possess previous understanding of", "be already familiar with", or "have advance awareness of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "had prior knowledge of" instead of "have prior knowledge of"?

Yes, "had prior knowledge of" is correct when referring to knowledge possessed at a point in the past. The choice between "have" and "had" depends on the tense of the sentence.

What's the difference between "have prior knowledge of" and "have a background in"?

"Have prior knowledge of" suggests a specific awareness of a particular fact or situation, while "have a background in" implies a more general and comprehensive understanding gained through education or experience.