not knowingly

USAGE SUMMARY

"not knowingly" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It usually expresses that the speaker/writer did not intend to do something, or did not realize they were doing something. For example, "I did not knowingly cause any harm to the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He did, according to the committee, though not knowingly.

The Economist

He added: "She did not knowingly decide not to declare.

The Guardian

"I did not knowingly commit an illegal act.

The New York Times - Sports

"I did not knowingly, purposely lie," he says, and then pauses, considering, to add a word: "I did not knowingly, purposely, intentionally lie.

The New Yorker

"We would not knowingly associate with the abuse of a disadvantaged group like the refugees.

The Guardian - Opinion

Government officials insist that they did not knowingly imperil the public.

The New York Times

We do not knowingly carry any illegal items in our network.

Independent

Allmendinger has said he tested positive for a stimulant he insists he did not knowingly ingest.

The New York Times - Sports

Industry trade groups say marketers do not knowingly track young children for advertising purposes.

The New York Times - Tech

I have great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone".

The New York Times

Boyd says the company has not knowingly purchased any materials containing natural mica since 2014.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not knowingly" to clearly indicate a lack of intent or awareness, especially in legal, ethical, or formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "not knowingly" in casual conversations; simpler alternatives like "I didn't realize" or "I didn't mean to" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not knowingly" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically used to qualify a verb or verb phrase. It indicates the absence of awareness or conscious intention in performing an action. Ludwig examples show it modifying verbs like "commit", "ingest", "violate", and "offend".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not knowingly" functions as an adverbial modifier, expressing a lack of awareness or intent behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in formal and ethical contexts. While simpler alternatives exist for casual settings, "not knowingly" provides a specific and clear way to convey that an action was unintentional. With a high expert rating based on grammatical correctness, source authority, and consistent usage, this phrase is a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not intentionally

Directly contrasts with intentional action, similar to the original phrase.

unintentionally

Expresses lack of intent, simplifying the phrase to a single adverb.

unwittingly

Similar to "unintentionally" but emphasizes a lack of awareness.

without knowledge

Emphasizes the absence of information or awareness.

without realizing

Focuses on the absence of realization during the action.

inadvertently

Highlights the accidental nature of the action.

without conscious intent

More formal, emphasizing the lack of conscious decision-making.

without being aware

Highlights a lack of perception or understanding.

under the impression that not

Indicates a mistaken belief that influenced the action.

not by design

Implies the action was not planned or intended.

FAQs

How can I use "not knowingly" in a sentence?

You can use "not knowingly" to express that an action was performed without awareness or intention. For example, "I did "not knowingly" violate any rules".

What can I say instead of "not knowingly"?

You can use alternatives like "unintentionally", "unwittingly", or "without realizing" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "not knowingly" or "unknowingly"?

Both ""not knowingly"" and "unknowingly" are correct, but "not knowingly" is often used for emphasis or in formal settings to explicitly state the lack of awareness or intent.

What's the difference between "not knowingly" and "unintentionally"?

"Not knowingly" emphasizes a lack of awareness or understanding, while "unintentionally" highlights the lack of intent. They are similar but can subtly shift the focus of the statement.