in our acquaintance

USAGE SUMMARY

"in our acquaintance" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used in a context where two people have known each other for a certain amount of time. For example, "I feel privileged to have known you for the past five years of our acquaintance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As I ponder this tension between us, a story that she told me early in our acquaintance comes back to me with special weight.

The New Yorker

"People think truck drivers are all evil and mean," Ainsworth said when we were still in North Carolina, and even earlier in our acquaintance he said, "Please do not entertain any stereotypical notions about truck drivers — i.e., that they are tobacco-chewing, ill-educated, waitress-pinching folk raised on red beans and rice and addicted to country music".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Sex, in this ongoing age of HIV, requires clarity, responsibility, and maturity in our acquaintances and friendships, our romances, and, most importantly, in the heat of the moment.

Huffington Post

But for everyone else, last night marked a pivotal moment in our budding acquaintance with the 23-year-old – and with the next generation of national team talent he represents.

The Guardian - Sport

Turing suggests that the most likely ground lies in our prior acquaintance with machines of all kinds: none of the machines that any of us has hitherto encountered has been able to do these things.

SEP

Well worth understanding about Schneider -- at least from what I've picked up in our brief acquaintance -- is that she has inherited two traits from her father: his sense of humor and his suffer-no-deficient-production-gladly attitude.

Huffington Post

I received only one handwritten note from James Baldwin in the course of our acquaintance, which began in 1979 and came to an end with his death eight years later.

The Guardian - Books

With a certain sheepishness, we both acknowledged our acquaintance in that distant past.

The Guardian - Books

"There is no restraint in this country — somewhere along the line, Americans forgot to behave," Shamblin told me in the first minutes of our acquaintance, one morning last October.

The New Yorker

I now muse that I must have irritated him mightily when, in the early days of our acquaintance, I used to say "Hello, David, it's Ann Widdecombe," as if he couldn't have discerned that as readily from my voice as the sighted discern from faces.

The Guardian - Books

"There is strength in weak ties... Our acquaintances – not our friends – are our greatest source of new ideas and information.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in our acquaintance" to refer to events or observations made during the period you have known someone, especially when emphasizing a developing or not-so-close relationship. For example, "He mentioned it casually in our acquaintance, not realizing its future significance."

Common error

Avoid using "in our acquaintance" when referring to very close friends or family. This phrase suggests a level of distance or formality that is inappropriate for intimate relationships. Use terms like "friendship" or "relationship" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in our acquaintance" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the timeframe or context of an event or observation. Ludwig AI confirms that it's used to set a temporal boundary within a relationship. In the provided examples, it helps to specify when certain information was shared or an event occurred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in our acquaintance" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that adds context regarding the timeframe and nature of a relationship, often implying a somewhat formal or not-so-close connection. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and examples show its prevalence in diverse fields, including news and science. While alternatives like "during our association" or "since we first met" exist, "in our acquaintance" offers a specific nuance best suited for describing events within a developing or casual relationship. Remember to avoid using it when referring to close friends or family, as it may imply unintended distance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the time we've been acquainted

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the time duration they have been acquainted.

over the course of our acquaintance

Similar to "throughout our acquaintance", but with a slightly more formal tone.

in the early stages of our acquaintance

Emphasizes the initial phase of the relationship.

throughout our acquaintance

Adds a temporal dimension, emphasizing the duration of the acquaintance.

from the beginning of our acquaintance

Highlights the initial phase of knowing each other.

during our association

Replaces "acquaintance" with "association", implying a more formal or structured relationship.

during the time we've known each other

Replaces "acquaintance" with a more explicit description of the time period.

as we got to know each other

Focuses on the process of becoming acquainted.

since we first met

Focuses on the starting point of the relationship rather than the relationship itself.

during our initial encounters

Specifies that the events occurred during the first meetings or interactions.

FAQs

How can I use "in our acquaintance" in a sentence?

You can use "in our acquaintance" to refer to something that happened or was learned during the time you have known someone. For example, "That topic came up only once "in our acquaintance"."

What are some alternatives to "in our acquaintance"?

Alternatives include "during our association", "over the course of our acquaintance", or "since we first met", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "in our acquaintance" when referring to a close friend?

While grammatically correct, "in our acquaintance" is better suited for describing relationships that are not very close or are somewhat formal. For close friends, phrases like "in our friendship" may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "in our acquaintance" and "in our friendship"?

"In our acquaintance" implies a more casual or less intimate relationship, while "in our friendship" suggests a deeper bond and shared experiences.