indicated no knowledge of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indicated no knowledge of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone has shown a lack of awareness or information about a particular subject or event. Example: "During the interview, the candidate indicated no knowledge of the recent changes in the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

On farmers' knowledge of the potential impact of pesticides used on the environment, majority (81.7 %) were aware that pesticides have the potential to cause harm to living organisms if not properly handled whereas 18.3 % indicated no knowledge of potential impact of pesticides on the environment.

Environmental Systems Research

Responses including misconceptions in these categories indicated no knowledge of genetic drift and only superficial if any knowledge of evolution.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This week, we received a response to one of my client's requests from a division of the Department, which indicated no knowledge whatsoever of the defense to repayment provisions.

Huffington Post

However, 37.3% of responses indicated no knowledge pertaining to the definition of evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

According to Osborne, who knew the couple well and occasionally house-sat for them, Robert Mochrie never indicated any knowledge of his wife's infidelity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The answers indicated little or no knowledge of random occurrences.

CBE Life Sciences Education

In total, 40% of respondents indicated they had no knowledge of SARS.

BMC Public Health

A language questionnaire indicated no or minimal knowledge of Dutch.

Cerebral Cortex

Twenty-nine percent of respondents indicated that they had no knowledge of Moodle prior to beginning their studies.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Official spokespersons for One Love have indicated the organization had no knowledge of the Boylan Heights event prior to the editorial's publication and said it did not reserve the venue for Saturday.

Huffington Post

But top D.C.M.A. officials responded to the assertion by saying that they had never heard of the safety survey, indicating that they had no knowledge of the longstanding electrical problems.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, consider whether a more direct synonym like "was unaware of" might be more concise and impactful. Choose the wording that best fits the tone and purpose of your writing.

Common error

Be careful not to use "indicated no knowledge of" when the person actually possesses some knowledge but isn't demonstrating it effectively. "Indicated" implies a complete absence of awareness, not simply an inability to articulate understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicated no knowledge of" functions as a descriptive expression. According to Ludwig, it is used to convey a lack of awareness or understanding about a particular subject, inferred from someone's actions, words, or responses.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "indicated no knowledge of" is a grammatically correct way to express a lack of awareness or understanding, inferred from someone's actions or statements. Ludwig shows that the phrase is most commonly used in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral register. While there are more common alternatives available, such as "was unaware of", this phrase is suitable when it's necessary to emphasize that the lack of knowledge was inferred. Keep in mind, based on the provided writing guidance, it’s crucial to ensure the context supports the interpretation and avoid using it when a person simply isn't demonstrating their knowledge effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

showed no awareness of

Replaces "indicated" with "showed" and "knowledge" with "awareness", implying a more direct observation of the lack of understanding.

demonstrated no understanding of

Emphasizes the observable demonstration of a lack of understanding, rather than a mere indication.

was unaware of

A more concise way of expressing a lack of knowledge, focusing on the state of being uninformed.

professed ignorance of

Implies a declared lack of knowledge, potentially suggesting a deliberate admission.

expressed unfamiliarity with

Highlights the lack of familiarity, suggesting a lack of experience or exposure.

had no acquaintance with

Indicates a complete lack of prior interaction or awareness.

betrayed a lack of insight into

Suggests that the lack of knowledge was inadvertently revealed.

was oblivious to

Implies a complete lack of awareness, often in a situation where awareness would be expected.

failed to recognize

Focuses on the inability to identify or understand something.

lacked comprehension of

Emphasizes a lack of understanding, particularly of complex topics.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "indicated no knowledge of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "demonstrated a lack of understanding of", "professed ignorance of", or "expressed unfamiliarity with". These options may be more suitable in academic or professional writing.

Is "indicated no knowledge of" the same as "was unaware of"?

While similar, "indicated no knowledge of" suggests an observation or inference based on someone's actions or statements, whereas "was unaware of" is a direct statement about their state of knowledge. You can use alternatives like "showed no awareness of" or "demonstrated no understanding of" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "indicated no knowledge of"?

It's appropriate when you can reasonably infer from someone's behavior, responses, or statements that they lack understanding or awareness of a particular subject. Make sure the context supports this interpretation and avoid using it if there's a possibility they possess some knowledge but aren't demonstrating it effectively.

What are some common synonyms for "knowledge" in the phrase "indicated no knowledge of"?

You can replace "knowledge" with words like "awareness", "understanding", "familiarity", "insight", or "comprehension", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, phrases like "indicated no understanding of", or "indicated no familiarity with" can be used.