known to someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "known to someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a particular piece of information or fact is familiar or recognized by a specific person or group. Example: "The details of the project are known to someone in the management team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"The idea is that in a school, every single kid has to be known to someone.

The New York Times

They are in love, but they can't stand the agony that love requires: being known to someone other than yourself.

The New Yorker

"We wanted some people who weren't so well known to someone like Sarah Silverman, who's in her moment right now".

The New York Times

Mandatory rotation would let that auditor know that such compromises would become known to someone who had nothing to lose by questioning them.

The New York Times

Even the financial crisis was entirely predictable, although the exact course of events could not be known to someone who lacked access to the information held by central bankers.

The Guardian - Opinion

It can be usefully contrasted with the claim of responsibility following the attacks in Paris, which included details that could only be known to someone intimately involved in the planning.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

For example, one survivor said, "And I know to someone who is healthy and never had to deal with that, that's a scary thing.

Bone Marrow Transplantation

Teach something you know to someone else.

WikiHow

defer.add img); Teach something you know to someone else.

WikiHow

Having the opportunity to get to know someone, to be let into their heart and soul, is a powerful thing.

WikiHow

But you had to "know someone" to get it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "known to someone" when emphasizing that a particular piece of information or skill is possessed by a specific individual or group, highlighting their unique awareness or expertise.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive construction "known to someone" when an active voice would be clearer and more direct. Instead of "The answer is known to her", try "She knows the answer".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "known to someone" primarily functions as a passive construction emphasizing that information or a fact is recognized or understood by a specific individual. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction appears in various contexts, serving to highlight particular awareness or expertise.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

21%

Science

29%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "known to someone" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that a piece of information or a fact is recognized by a specific individual or group. As Ludwig AI indicates, while not extremely common, the phrase appears in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. When writing, it's important to consider whether an active voice construction might be clearer and more direct. Alternatives such as "familiar to a person" or "recognized by an individual" may also be appropriate depending on the context. The phrase fulfills a useful purpose in specifying the possessor of knowledge, drawing attention to who is informed about a particular subject and can be used in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

familiar to a person

Replaces "known" with "familiar", emphasizing personal acquaintance or awareness.

recognized by an individual

Substitutes "known" with "recognized", highlighting acknowledgment or awareness.

within someone's knowledge

Focuses on the information being contained within a person's understanding.

apparent to somebody

Replaces "known" with "apparent", suggesting the information is easily noticeable to someone.

privy to someone

Indicates that someone is part of a private or secret understanding.

on someone's radar

Emphasizes that someone is aware of something or someone, often in a professional context.

accessible to a person

Highlights that the information or entity is reachable or obtainable by an individual.

in someone's consciousness

Emphasizes awareness and recognition of something or someone.

registered with someone

Suggests that something has been officially noted or recorded by someone.

noted by a person

Implies that an individual has taken specific notice of something.

FAQs

How can I use "known to someone" in a sentence?

You can use "known to someone" to indicate that a specific person or group is aware of something. For example, "The details of the plan are only known to someone within the inner circle".

What are some alternatives to "known to someone"?

Alternatives include "familiar to a person", "recognized by an individual", or "within someone's knowledge" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "known to someone" instead of "familiar to someone"?

"Known to someone" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the state of being recognized, while "familiar to someone" highlights a sense of personal acquaintance or understanding. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "details known to someone"?

Yes, "details known to someone" is grammatically correct. It uses a past participle ("known") as an adjective to describe "details", indicating that the details are recognized or understood by a particular person.