narrow knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrow knowledge" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to a limited understanding of a topic or subject. For example, "She had a narrow knowledge of economics, so she struggled to understand the lecture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As a result of this narrow knowledge, most Western companies looking to hire skilled Chinese workers will find that they must invest a lot in training for even the most rudimentary tasks.

Forbes

In addition, there appears to be a narrow knowledge base regarding technical aspects such as transducer selection, transducer position and scanning mode as well as the most appropriate mode of reproducible documentation of the findings of LUS.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In a turbulence-free environment, this will lead to an increasingly narrower knowledge elite being involved in the changing of organizational code, until the organizational code finally mimics reality as good as it can by reaching its equilibrium state.

European Journal of Futures Research

(These were predecessors who were, for their part, doing their utmost to court--almost exclusively--the attentions of remote academic chairs with a narrower knowledge of contemporary poetry than most first-year MFA students).

Huffington Post

While such a technology focus may appear to target the 'scientific citizen,' young WaterEngage users have already evidenced the narrowing knowledge gap between the public and scientists by uploading animated videos about scientific concepts [ 23].

BMC Public Health

In modern healthcare's knowledge-intensive environment, information technology (IT) is frequently incorporated into quality improvement (QI) initiatives to narrow provider knowledge gaps and influence the trajectory of behaviour.

BMJ Quality and Safety

Now, a media agency and a magazine are teaming up to help narrow that knowledge gap.

The New York Times

This is another trap many of your colleagues fall into: overemphasizing narrow technical knowledge rather than more general scientific skills.

Science Magazine

"And I found that, while my Ph.D. was absolutely brilliant in giving me very … narrow, deep knowledge, I didn't have the breadth or the communication skills to be able to explain such complex things in a way that would be useful for my family".

Science Magazine

As I tried to prove with my two post-election scientific polls in 2008, most political junkies have no idea how narrow the knowledge base is of the average, modern day, "undecided voter".

Huffington Post

To narrow the knowledge gaps and accelerate wide-ranging discoveries from interrelated data, it is essential that data integration is done first.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a lack of comprehensive knowledge, consider using "narrow knowledge" to accurately convey the limited scope of understanding on a specific topic. This is especially effective in academic and professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "narrow knowledge" when the situation calls for describing complete ignorance or a total lack of understanding. "Narrow knowledge" implies some level of understanding, just not a broad one. Instead, use phrases like "lack of knowledge" or "complete ignorance" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrow knowledge" functions as a descriptive term, characterizing the extent or scope of one's understanding. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is used to indicate a limited comprehension of a topic. The phrase combines an adjective modifying a noun to express this limitation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrow knowledge" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes a limited understanding or expertise in a particular area. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It is versatile, appearing across various contexts, including scientific publications, news articles, and encyclopedias. While generally suitable for formal communication, it's important to use it judiciously, ensuring it accurately reflects the intended meaning and avoids overgeneralization. Consider alternative phrases like ""limited understanding"" or ""restricted expertise"" based on the specific context. Remember that having a specialist knowledge in a limited field is not necessarily bad.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited understanding

Replaces 'knowledge' with a more general term for understanding.

restricted expertise

Substitutes 'knowledge' with 'expertise' suggesting a skill-based limitation.

shallow understanding

Implies a lack of depth in knowledge.

superficial knowledge

Replaces 'narrow' with 'superficial' highlighting a lack of thoroughness.

circumscribed awareness

Uses 'circumscribed' and 'awareness' to indicate limited scope of knowledge.

confined expertise

Replaces 'narrow' with 'confined' and 'knowledge' with 'expertise'.

specialized understanding

Suggests knowledge is limited to a specific area.

fragmentary knowledge

Emphasizes that knowledge is incomplete.

incomplete information

Focuses on the lack of complete information.

rudimentary knowledge

Indicates a basic, underdeveloped level of knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "narrow knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "narrow knowledge" to describe a limited or specialized understanding of a subject. For example, "Due to his "narrow knowledge" of the topic, he couldn't contribute much to the discussion."

What are some alternatives to saying "narrow knowledge"?

Alternatives include "limited understanding", "restricted expertise", or "shallow understanding", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "narrow knowledge" or "limited knowledge"?

Both "narrow knowledge" and "limited knowledge" are acceptable. "Narrow knowledge" often implies a deep understanding within a specific area, while "limited knowledge" suggests a general lack of understanding.

What does it mean to have "narrow knowledge" of a subject?

Having "narrow knowledge" of a subject means that your understanding is focused on a specific aspect or area, rather than a comprehensive overview. This isn't necessarily negative, as it can indicate expertise in a particular niche.