kind of know how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of know how" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a vague or partial understanding of a subject or skill. Example: "I kind of know how to play the guitar, but I'm not very good at it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Knowledge

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"We kind of know how to help".

The New York Times

"So you kind of know how the story ends.

The New York Times

I kind of know how Giles feels, too.

The Guardian - Sport

"I don't mind cars because I kind of know how they'll behave.

The New York Times - Arts

I kind of know how to do it but that is a conversation with the powers that be".

The Guardian - Sport

I mean, we kind of know how something like the supply and demand curves can be derived from maximizing behavior, but it's not all that easy, and nobody, nobody, insists that you do this derivation every time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"We kind of knew how they were going to play us," Dungy said.

The New York Times - Sports

"He kind of knows how to separate football from daily life," Tuck said.

The New York Times - Sports

"He was not on top of the world of play, but he was a gambler that kind of knew how to play the angles a little bit," a former professional gambler said of Stephen Paddock.

The New Yorker

Because I'd worked in studios all round the world, and I kind of knew how I didn't want it to run, having worked in some that were pretty autocratic, almost to the point of being bullying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

HD: Well, we had built a payments company before, so we kind of knew how to do it and just decided to rebuild everything from scratch.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of know how" to express a tentative or incomplete understanding. For situations demanding certainty, opt for phrases like "thoroughly understand" or "have mastered".

Common error

Avoid using "kind of know how" when applying for jobs or in situations where you need to project confidence in your abilities. Instead, focus on what you do know and frame it positively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of know how" functions as a qualifier indicating a degree of familiarity or competence that is less than complete. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. It modifies the verb "know" to express a tentative or partial understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

20%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "kind of know how" is a common expression used to indicate a partial or incomplete understanding of a skill or process. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's important to recognize that "kind of know how" is best suited for informal contexts and may not be appropriate in situations requiring a display of complete competence. For formal settings, more precise alternatives like "partially understand" or "have a basic grasp of" are recommended. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, and less commonly in formal academic or business writing, reflecting its informal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sort of know how

Replaces "kind of" with "sort of", maintaining the same level of uncertainty.

vaguely know how

Substitutes "kind of" with "vaguely", emphasizing the lack of clarity.

partially understand how

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal expression of partial understanding.

have some idea how

Indicates a basic level of comprehension without complete mastery.

know a little about how

Highlights a limited knowledge of the process or skill involved.

not fully understand how

Emphasizes the incomplete nature of the knowledge.

have a basic grasp of how

Suggests a rudimentary understanding of the fundamentals.

am somewhat familiar with how

Indicates a moderate level of acquaintance with the subject.

know the basics of how

Focuses on knowledge of fundamental principles rather than advanced techniques.

have a rough idea of how

Implies a lack of precision in the understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of know how" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of know how" to express a partial understanding or ability, such as "I "kind of know how" to fix a leaky faucet, but I'm not a professional plumber."

What can I say instead of "kind of know how"?

You can use alternatives like "sort of know how", "vaguely know how", or "have some idea how" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "kind of know how" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "kind of know how" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise language, such as "partially understand" or "have a basic understanding of".

What's the difference between "kind of know how" and "know how"?

"Know how" implies a solid understanding and ability, while "kind of know how" suggests a limited or incomplete understanding. Use "kind of" to indicate uncertainty.