is only known

USAGE SUMMARY

"is only known" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not widely known or has not been publicly revealed. For example: "The identity of the perpetrator is only known to a select few."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Therefore, the outcome of the integration is only known at the end of the integration process.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Vincent Price made some wonderful movies, serious movies, but he is only known for horror.

The Guardian - Film

Most of the best ancient Greek sculpture is only known through Roman copies.

The Guardian - Arts

It is only known from two or three questionable specimens from the 19th century and could now be extinct.

Cornell University

Hence, our approach is only known to generate a convex polyhedral upper bound to the true convex polyhedral room.

Cornell University

The private key is only known to the owner, preventing anyone else from accessing those digital assets.

Columbia University

Two of these genera, Vesiculoviruses and Lyssaviruses, infect humans, while the third genus, Ephemeroviruses, is only known to infect animals.

Stanford University

The function u is only known at the discrete set of points belonging to a regular mesh covering Rn.

Journal of Computational Physics

In practice, one often encounters situations where the spectral information is only known over a dense subalgebra.

Journal of Functional Analysis

The survey was done anonymously, so the extent of Toradol usage from team to team is only known anecdotally.

The Washington Post

It is only known by experiential acquaintance.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is only known" to highlight that information is restricted or not widely available, adding a sense of exclusivity or mystery to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "is only known" when the information is generally accessible. Reserve it for situations where knowledge is genuinely limited or specific.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is only known" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that the subject's knowledge or recognition is limited. It implies that the information isn't widely disseminated. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is only known" is a grammatically sound and widely used passive construction that denotes limited awareness or restricted knowledge. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and effective in written English. It frequently appears in scientific and news-related contexts, signaling that specific information is not universally accessible. While versatile, it is crucial to avoid overuse in general statements and to ensure it accurately reflects the scarcity of the information being conveyed. Alternatives like "is solely known" can provide subtle variations in meaning, depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is solely known

Emphasizes exclusivity; the information is limited to only a specific entity or context.

is exclusively known

Highlights that knowledge is restricted to a particular group or source.

is merely known

Underscores the simplicity or basic nature of the existing knowledge.

is just known

Implies that the knowledge is recent or has not been widely disseminated.

is only recognized

Focuses on acknowledgment or awareness, rather than general knowledge.

is only realized

Indicates a delayed understanding or awareness that was not previously apparent.

is only familiar

Suggests a limited or personal acquaintance with the subject.

is only understood

Emphasizes the comprehension aspect; implies that knowledge is limited by understanding.

is only appreciated

Suggests the true value or significance is not widely acknowledged.

is only learned

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, specifically restricted to certain individuals or contexts.

FAQs

How to use "is only known" in a sentence?

Use "is only known" to indicate that something is not widely known or that knowledge about it is limited. For example, "The exact cause of the phenomenon "is only known" to a few researchers."

What can I say instead of "is only known"?

You can use alternatives like "is solely known", "is exclusively known", or "is merely known" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "is only known" or "is only knowing"?

"Is only known" is the correct passive form, indicating that something is known by a limited number of people or sources. "Is only knowing" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "is only known" and "is well-known"?

"Is only known" indicates limited awareness or knowledge, while "is well-known" implies that something is widely recognized or familiar to many.