ill informed on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ill informed on" is correct and usable in written English, although it is more commonly written as "ill-informed on." You can use it to describe someone who lacks knowledge or is misinformed about a particular topic.
Example: "He was ill-informed on the latest developments in the project, which led to misunderstandings during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Though there is a thriving sex industry here and birth control is widely available, advocates for safe sex say many young people are ill informed on the subject.

The New York Times

Perhaps this is because he is so ill informed on the breakdown of who is being protested at college campuses; but more likely it's because he truly feels anyone who identifies as conservative should be given carte blanche over all public spaces.

HuffPost

Told of Mr. Bush's comment on Wednesday that he was "very misguided and ill informed" on Monday when he said the rich nations had become "stingy" in helping the world's poor, Mr. Egeland said he had never meant to imply that the United States was not being generous in the current crisis.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

1. Local elected school boards are too politically contentious and ill informed to oversee effective school change.

Huffington Post

Mr. Dyson, a professor of religious studies and African studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said Mr. Cosby was "ill-informed on the critical and complex issues that shape people's lives".

The New York Times - Arts

Barring the company from bidding on fifth-generation, or 5G, telecom networks would be "ill informed" and "not based on facts," Huawei said in its letter.

The New York Times

The "Superman" crowd's conviction that "we also must make charter schools a truly viable option" is as ill informed as its singular focus on firing teachers and principals -- often without due process and in violation of legally binding collective bargaining agreements.

Huffington Post

"After dozens of trips abroad," writes the former Frugal Traveler columnist for The New York Times, "to 60 countries on five continents, having produced hundreds of newspaper and magazine stories, I was once again setting off on an adventure, utterly ill informed".

The New York Times - Books

Several experts on Zulu culture insisted that the critics were ill informed.

The New York Times

The void of information has led to much speculation, much of it ill informed, about intelligence spending.

The New York Times

"But I like giving the kids access and I say move forward". Eric Tran, speaking on behalf of his parents, said the neighborhood was ill informed about possible use of the private road.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "ill-informed" with a hyphen. While "ill informed on" is grammatically correct, "ill-informed" functions as a single adjective and can improve readability.

Common error

Avoid using "ill informed on" simply to dismiss opinions you disagree with. Ensure there's a genuine lack of factual understanding, not just a difference in perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill informed on" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating that someone lacks adequate knowledge or understanding about a specific subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ill informed on" is a grammatically correct way to describe someone lacking knowledge about a specific topic, as supported by Ludwig AI. While "ill-informed" with a hyphen is more common, both forms are acceptable. The phrase appears mostly in news and media, indicating a relatively neutral register. To improve clarity, specify the subject in question when using this phrase and ensure it reflects a genuine lack of understanding, not just a difference in opinion. Consider alternatives like "uninformed about" or "misinformed about" depending on the specific context you're writing within.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uninformed about

Focuses on a general lack of knowledge, omitting the implication of being actively misinformed.

misinformed about

Emphasizes that the person has incorrect information, rather than simply lacking it.

poorly informed about

Indicates a deficiency in the quality or depth of information possessed.

lacking knowledge of

Highlights the absence of knowledge, more neutral in tone.

ignorant of

Stronger, more critical term suggesting a deliberate lack of awareness.

unacquainted with

Suggests a lack of familiarity or experience with the subject matter.

not up to date on

Implies that the person's knowledge is outdated or not current.

out of touch with

Suggests a disconnect from the realities or current state of a situation.

deficient in knowledge of

More formal way to point out a knowledge gap.

not conversant with

Suggests a lack of detailed or expert knowledge.

FAQs

What's the difference between "ill informed on" and "misinformed about"?

"Ill informed on" generally implies a lack of knowledge or being inadequately informed about something. "Misinformed about", on the other hand, suggests possessing incorrect or misleading information. Both phrases indicate a deficiency in understanding, but the latter specifies the presence of inaccurate data. For example, a person might be "ill informed on" the details of a bill, or "misinformed about" its potential impact.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "ill informed on"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "uninformed about", "poorly informed about", "lacking knowledge of", or "ignorant of" as alternatives to "ill informed on".

Is it better to use "ill-informed" or "ill informed"?

Using "ill-informed" with a hyphen is often preferred because it combines "ill" and "informed" into a single compound adjective, which can improve readability and clarity. However, "ill informed" without a hyphen is also grammatically correct, so it depends on stylistic preference.

How can I use "ill informed on" in a sentence?

You can use "ill informed on" to describe someone who lacks knowledge about a particular subject. For example, "The politician was "ill informed on" the intricacies of the trade agreement" or "Many people are "ill informed on" the benefits of regular exercise".