knowledge of doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"knowledge of doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to a skill or familiarity with a task or activity. For example, "I have considerable knowledge of doing electrical work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Without any knowledge of doing so at the time, I took up some years ago with someone who had a knack for greenery.

The New York Times

"From Naked into Majestic, what these benefits have got in common is both companies have got to develop in areas where they are weak and benefit from the other one's knowledge of doing that," he said.

The Guardian - Business

"I started when I was 15, so I'd been doing live TV for 10 years before I hit 25, so I had all the experience and all the knowledge of doing it technically and I'd been so lucky to do so many big shows and still I'd go into meetings at the Beeb or ITV and people wouldn't take me seriously because I'm blond, I'm small and I'm 28.

The Guardian

These habits become embodied as repertories or bodily "know how", which we, in turn, reatain as "sedimented" or embodied capacities for acting according to various situational demands without explicit knowledge of doing so.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Knowledge here does not simply mean knowing things epistemologically, but the knowledge of doing the rights thing morally, guided by Propriety (li; 禮), Righteousness (yi; 義), and Humaneness (Ren; 仁).

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Like Melville, Mr. Nissenson has "that very private, very patient concentration and the self-knowledge of doing something utterly original".

The New York Times - Books

In short, the Vitruvian picture of architecture is rooted in experiential knowledge of making, doing, and crafting.

SEP

This feat is known as "jackpotting" and takes an incredible amount of knowledge to do.

Vice

HOW deep a knowledge of Shakespeare does it take to stage operas based on Shakespeare?

The New York Times - Arts

"I am retiring with the tranquillity and knowledge of having done a sincere, honest job.

The Guardian - Sport

My knowledge of soccer doesn't extend beyond Pelé or the Spice Girl's husband".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "knowledge of doing" when you want to emphasize both the understanding and practical skill involved in performing an action. For instance, instead of saying "He knows how to fix cars", you could say "He has a strong knowledge of doing car repairs" to highlight his expertise.

Common error

Don't use "knowledge of doing" interchangeably with simple ability or awareness. The phrase implies a deeper understanding and practical competence, not just a superficial awareness. Saying "She has knowledge of doing quantum physics" when she only read a popular science article overstates her expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "knowledge of doing" functions as a noun phrase, where "knowledge" is the head noun and "of doing" acts as a prepositional phrase modifying it. This indicates a specific type of understanding or skill related to performing an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "knowledge of doing" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, although Ludwig AI identifies it as relatively rare. It's best employed when you want to convey not only an understanding of a subject but also a practical skill or expertise in performing it. While alternatives such as "expertise in performing" or "understanding of how to do" exist, "knowledge of doing" uniquely emphasizes the combination of understanding and practical skill. Be careful not to overestimate someone's abilities by using this phrase when they only have a superficial understanding. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, it suits a neutral to professional register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understanding of how to do

Focuses on the comprehension aspect rather than the practical skill.

expertise in performing

Emphasizes a high level of skill and proficiency.

familiarity with carrying out

Highlights being acquainted and comfortable with the execution.

competence in executing

Stresses the ability to effectively complete a task.

proficiency in undertaking

Highlights skill and readiness in beginning a task.

awareness of the process of doing

Shifts focus to understanding the steps involved.

insight into the method of doing

Emphasizes a deeper understanding of the methodology.

practical know-how

Uses a more concise and informal expression.

experience in the act of doing

Focuses on accumulated experience rather than knowledge.

skill in the execution of

Highlights specific skills used in the execution.

FAQs

How can I use "knowledge of doing" in a sentence?

You can use "knowledge of doing" to express expertise or skill in a particular activity. For example, "Her "knowledge of doing" surgery was extensive, making her an excellent surgeon".

What are some alternatives to "knowledge of doing"?

Alternatives include "expertise in performing", "understanding of how to do", or "proficiency in undertaking", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "knowledge of doing" or "knowledge about doing"?

"Knowledge of doing" emphasizes practical skill and experience, whereas "knowledge about doing" focuses more on theoretical understanding. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight practical skill or theoretical understanding.

What's the difference between "skill in doing" and "knowledge of doing"?

"Skill in doing" highlights the ability to perform a task well, while "knowledge of doing" suggests a deeper understanding of the process and techniques involved. Someone might have "skill in doing" something without necessarily having a thorough knowledge of why it works.