out of familiarity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of familiarity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express actions or feelings that arise due to a sense of comfort or knowledge about something. Example: "She made the decision out of familiarity with the process, knowing it would yield the best results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

According to Mr. Marial, more than a dozen potential names had been put forth, but the Republic of South Sudan was chosen out of familiarity and convenience.

The New York Times

I've been using the term "mound," both out of familiarity and for simplicity's sake, but sitting with a groundskeeper made me more aware of its inaccuracy.

The New Yorker

It is fashionable to look back at Warhol and talk about how his repetitions provoked us out of familiarity when he piled up the soup cans and screen printed the Monroes – multiplying two iconic brands; the one glamorous, the other mundane – his genius to recognise that they vibrated on the same cultural wavelength.

The Guardian - Arts

Net Applications attributes the increase in usage to Microsoft's 'Confidence' campaign, but other factors may be involved as well, like the success of Windows 7 and the browser choice screen that now turns up with new Windows installations in Europe (I think a lot of people choose to install IE8 out of familiarity with the browser's name and logo).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's linked to Unedited Footage of a Bear in that the idea grew out of our familiarity with the 4 AM audience, and we wanted to make something specifically for them.

Vice

This is partly because so many movies fit comfortably into established genres, and much of the time moviegoers seek out the comforts of familiarity.

The New York Times

As Dörnyei and Taguchi (2010) point out, this lack of familiarity with listening strategies might took the members of the control group to agree with sentences that they did not fully understand.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

We assessed the degree to which the effectiveness of prequestions could be influenced by individual differences in students' confidence, familiarity, out-of-class reading, and GPA.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Perhaps the one name that sticks out, simply through lack of familiarity to modern eyes, is that of Jimmy Demaret.

The Guardian - Sport

Because phylogenetic relatedness is a good predictor of whether a female will recognize a heterospecific's call as an acceptable sexual signal [28], using a congener to represent heterospecifics is a reasonable approach in this case, even if we cannot rule out the potential contribution of familiarity.

Plosone

When coach Mike Petke told the media that he "literally got the [Toronto match] DVD and cracked it in half and threw it out", I felt a twinge of familiarity, as I've thrown out any logical or fact-based approach to predicting how the Red Bulls will perform.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of familiarity" to explain choices or actions that stem from comfort, knowledge, or previous experience with something. It adds a layer of understanding to the motivation behind the action.

Common error

Avoid substituting "out of familiarity" with similar-sounding phrases like "from habit" or "due to routine" if the intention is to specifically highlight the role of knowledge and experience rather than mere repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of familiarity" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to explain the reason or motivation behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "out of familiarity" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that elucidates actions or decisions stemming from prior knowledge or experience. While not exceedingly common, as evidenced by Ludwig's analysis, its presence in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its validity. It functions adverbially, providing context for verbs or clauses, and maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse writing styles. When seeking alternatives, consider options such as "due to familiarity" or "based on familiarity" to achieve similar clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, using "out of familiarity" correctly can add depth and precision to your writing, highlighting the impact of experience on behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from familiarity

A more concise way to express the origin of an action or feeling.

based on familiarity

Replaces "out of" with "based on", focusing on the foundation of the action.

due to familiarity

Emphasizes the reason or cause as familiarity.

because of familiarity

Directly states familiarity as the reason for something.

through familiarity

Highlights the process by which familiarity influences an action.

as a result of familiarity

Highlights the outcome or consequence of being familiar with something.

by virtue of familiarity

More formal way of saying "because of familiarity".

on account of familiarity

Similar to "because of", but slightly more formal.

in light of familiarity

Suggests that familiarity provides a certain perspective.

with a sense of familiarity

Shifts the focus to the feeling or perception of being familiar.

FAQs

How can I use "out of familiarity" in a sentence?

You can use "out of familiarity" to indicate that an action or decision is based on previous knowledge or experience. For instance, "She chose that software "out of familiarity" with its interface".

What phrases are similar to "out of familiarity"?

Similar phrases include "due to familiarity", "based on familiarity", or "from familiarity". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "from familiarity" instead of "out of familiarity"?

Both "out of familiarity" and "from familiarity" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often comes down to personal preference or the specific context of the sentence.

What's the difference between "out of habit" and "out of familiarity"?

"Out of habit" implies a repetitive action done without much thought, while "out of familiarity" suggests a decision or action based on knowledge and understanding gained from previous experience.