hearsay knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hearsay knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing information that is based on what others have said rather than direct experience or evidence. Example: "In legal proceedings, hearsay knowledge is often deemed inadmissible as evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"All her knowledge," he insisted, "is hearsay knowledge".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

So, yes, our culture seems tolerant to the substitution of fatuous hearsay for genuine knowledge, earned the hard way (is there any other?).

Huffington Post

Hearsay and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

The Guardian

The sources of knowledge are hearsay, or testimony; "explanation," or inference; and "in person," or observation.

SEP

The style of the drawing is occasionally if unobtrusively varied to good effect: Darwin's famous listings of the pros and cons of marriage is illustrated in a lighter style, as if by his own jotted cartoons, and the Oxford debate of 1860 is illustrated in the style of a Victorian magazine like Punch, which subtly conveys the hearsay nature of our knowledge of it.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Blaming some insidious clandestine villain for anything invariably works in a country where hearsay passes for truth and paranoia for knowledge.

The New York Times

The military police found that "the crucial components of their descriptions were based on hearsay and not supported by specific personal knowledge," the army said in a statement.

The New York Times

The three predictors of intention (attitude, social norms and perceived behavior control) are interrelated and shaped by beliefs which are based on cultural transmission, observations, information, hearsay and last but not least experienced knowledge (Beedell and Rehman 2000).

Human Ecology

He added that only one named source "claimed direct knowledge of wrongdoing, as opposed to hearsay or supposition.

The New York Times

Knowledge of kind (II) arises from hearsay, arising "from the fact that having heard or read certain words, we recollect things, and form certain ideas of them … through which we imagine them".

SEP

Even after joining fellow members of the panel by casting the last vote for guilty, the juror, Ron Supalo, said he remained troubled by the prosecution's reliance on hearsay, statements not based on a witness's direct knowledge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "hearsay knowledge", clarify the original source and the degree of reliability, especially in contexts where accuracy is crucial.

Common error

Avoid treating "hearsay knowledge" as factual without verification. Always acknowledge its secondhand nature and potential for inaccuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hearsay knowledge" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement within a sentence. It identifies a type of information that is derived indirectly.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hearsay knowledge" refers to information acquired secondhand, rather than through direct experience. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct but used relatively infrequently. It appears in a range of contexts, including News & Media and Science, though its reliability is often questioned. When using this phrase, it's essential to acknowledge the source's indirect nature and potential for inaccuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

knowledge from hearsay

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the source of knowledge.

indirect knowledge

Stresses the lack of direct experience or observation.

secondhand information

Focuses on the indirect source of the information, rather than its reliability.

reported information

Highlights the act of relaying information from another source.

unverified information

Highlights the lack of confirmation or validation of the knowledge.

unconfirmed reports

Emphasizes the lack of official verification of the information.

rumored knowledge

Emphasizes that the information is based on rumors and may not be accurate.

speculative knowledge

Suggests the information is based on conjecture rather than facts.

gossip-based knowledge

Indicates the information is derived from informal and potentially unreliable sources.

heard-about information

Informal way of saying that knowledge was not acquired directly.

FAQs

What does "hearsay knowledge" mean?

"Hearsay knowledge" refers to information or knowledge that you've heard from someone else, rather than directly experienced or witnessed yourself. It's secondhand information.

Is "hearsay knowledge" reliable?

The reliability of "hearsay knowledge" is questionable. Because it's based on someone else's account, it's important to verify the information before accepting it as fact. Consider alternatives like "verified information" for greater reliability.

How is "hearsay knowledge" used in legal contexts?

In legal settings, "hearsay knowledge" is often inadmissible as evidence because it's not based on direct testimony. The "hearsay rule" generally excludes such evidence unless it meets specific exceptions.

What are some alternatives to "hearsay knowledge"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "secondhand information", "unconfirmed reports", or "rumored knowledge" instead of "hearsay knowledge".