knew looking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "knew looking for" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete or improperly structured expression, and it cannot be used in written English without additional context or correction. Example: "I knew looking for the answer would take time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As Matt and Daniel searched out the fixers they knew, looking for information on the conditions inside Tal Abyad, I began to mix among some of the correspondents, most of whom were packing up their things.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Do you mind if I ask at what?" "Basically, right now, at, you know, looking for work".

The New York Times

"The only other company we know looking for a major chemical acquisition is BASF, and not necessarily a U.S. acquisition".

Forbes

"I'm not going to high schools, you know, looking for dates.

Huffington Post

"You know, singer looking for a group.

The Guardian - Arts

It was just the one that I got wasn't one I knew to look for".

BBC

"I knew I was looking for something quirky," she said.

The New York Times

"I knew they were looking for a new music director.

The Guardian - Music

"She knew we were looking for her". .

Los Angeles Times

When exploring lesser known artists, look for collaborations with more well known artists.

WikiHow

"You know, Stan's looking for you," I said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing that someone was aware of the need to search for something, use grammatically correct phrases such as "knew what to look for" or "was aware of searching for" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Do not combine "knew" directly with a gerund like "looking". Instead, use a structure that includes a clear object of knowledge, such as "knew what they were looking for", or rephrase to "was aware of searching".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "knew looking for" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't serve a clear grammatical function. Correct alternatives include using a relative clause ("knew what they were looking for") or a gerund phrase ("was aware of searching for"). As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase “knew looking for” is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase lacks proper structure and clarity. Instead, it's advisable to use alternatives like "knew what to look for" or "was aware of searching for" to accurately convey the intended meaning. While some sources may contain this phrase, its infrequent and grammatically unsound nature makes it unsuitable for general use. Always aim for grammatically correct and clear expressions in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

knew what he was searching for

It includes the pronoun "he" to clarify who is searching.

was aware of searching for

Replaces "knew looking for" with a more grammatically sound phrase that uses a gerund.

understood the search for

Similar to the previous phrase, but uses "understood" instead of "was aware", conveying a deeper comprehension.

knew what to seek

Changes the structure to emphasize the object of the search was already known.

had knowledge of what to find

Focuses on the prior knowledge of the target, restructuring the phrase for clarity.

recognized the need to search

Highlights the recognition of the necessity to search for something.

was informed about the quest for

Emphasizes being informed or notified about an ongoing search.

realized the importance of finding

Shifts the focus to the realization of the significance of finding something.

had anticipated the need to look for

Focuses on prior anticipation, suggesting preparedness for the search.

knew I'd need to find

Emphasizes the personal necessity of finding something, using a contraction for informality.

FAQs

How can I correctly express knowing about a current search?

Instead of "knew looking for", try "knew what to look for" or "was aware of "searching for"". The latter uses a gerund phrase for grammatical accuracy.

Is it ever correct to say "knew looking for"?

No, "knew looking for" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to use alternatives such as "knew what to look for" or "was aware of the search for" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "knew what to look for" and "was aware of looking for"?

"Knew what to look for" implies prior knowledge of the specific thing being searched. "Was aware of "looking for"" simply means the person was conscious of the act of searching, without necessarily knowing the target.

What are some alternatives to "knew looking for" that maintain a similar meaning?

Consider using "understood the need to find", "realized the importance of "searching"", or "recognized the need to search" for alternatives that accurately convey the intended meaning.