outside our knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outside our knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is beyond what is known or understood by a person or group. Example: "The phenomenon we observed was truly remarkable, as it seemed to exist outside our knowledge of current scientific principles."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This is the first patient diagnosed outside of Africa to our knowledge with this particular strain of Ebola," he said.

The Guardian

However, the strain SMC-7485 is the first described M. senegalense isolate, which is associated with human infection and is found outside Africa, to our knowledge.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The results highlight the substantial contribution of studies of species growing outside of the forests to our knowledge of past vegetation and climate dynamics in the Neotropics.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In contrast, the IMAT (i.e., adipose tissue within a muscle but located outside the myofiber) is to our knowledge not increased in athletes and is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in both healthy and obese subjects as well as in acromegaly patients.

Cell Death and Disease

To our knowledge, no animal species outside the lophotrochozoans has this gene.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

However, outside these systems, our knowledge of the function of thigmotropism in fungal growth control is relatively poor.

Fungal Genetics and Biology

"Our knowledge about the outside world until we finish high school is very limited," he said.

The New Yorker

Despite the unique resources available for A. thaliana, the scarcity of accessions from many regions located outside of Europe has hampered our knowledge of its demographic history in Africa and Asia.

BMC Plant Biology

I explore 1) the strategies people employ to digest the overwhelming amount of information they encounter 2) how depending on outside knowledge influences our sense of our own abilities 3) how we access knowledge (or fail to do so) through argumentation.

Yale University

This idea was chosen because of an interest in GPS and because we both wanted to try something different from our usual lab assignments and something new outside our scope of knowledge.

Cornell University

Our results suggest that interlocks contribute to outside directors' knowledge and bargaining power in the boardroom.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outside our knowledge", ensure it clearly indicates a limit of understanding or awareness, not necessarily a complete absence of information. The context should imply a boundary or frontier of what is known.

Common error

Avoid using "outside our knowledge" when more specific terms like 'unproven', 'speculative', or 'theoretical' would more accurately reflect the situation. Overusing the phrase can suggest a lack of investigation rather than a genuine limit of understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outside our knowledge" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (often implicit) to indicate that something lies beyond the scope of what is known or understood by a particular group. Ludwig's examples illustrate this use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "outside our knowledge" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating that something lies beyond the boundaries of what is currently known or understood. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples across various domains like science, news, and academia. While its frequency is uncommon, the phrase serves a useful purpose in acknowledging the limits of our comprehension and prompting further investigation. When using "outside our knowledge", ensure it accurately reflects a genuine boundary of understanding and consider more specific terms if appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unknown to us

Directly states the lack of knowledge from our perspective.

beyond our comprehension

Focuses on the limit of understanding rather than the absence of knowledge.

unbeknownst to us

Highlights the lack of awareness from our perspective.

not within our awareness

Emphasizes the lack of consciousness or recognition.

beyond the scope of our understanding

Emphasizes the limitations of our grasp on a subject.

alien to our understanding

Suggests something unfamiliar or foreign to our existing knowledge.

not in our expertise

Highlights the absence of specific skills or proficiency.

outside our area of expertise

Emphasizes the boundary of our competence or skill.

something we aren't familiar with

Focuses on a lack of experience or acquaintance.

beyond our ken

Uses a more formal term for understanding or perception.

FAQs

How can I use "outside our knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "outside our knowledge" to describe something that is beyond the current understanding or expertise of a group. For instance, "The phenomenon we observed seemed to exist "outside our knowledge" of current scientific principles".

What are some alternatives to saying "outside our knowledge"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "beyond our comprehension", "unbeknownst to us", or "not within our awareness".

When is it appropriate to use "outside our knowledge"?

Use "outside our knowledge" when referring to concepts, facts, or phenomena that are genuinely beyond the current scope of understanding or expertise, not just something you haven't personally encountered. This emphasizes a collective limitation.

Is "outside our knowledge" formal or informal?

"Outside our knowledge" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or scientific writing, consider more precise alternatives like "beyond the scope of our understanding" to convey a greater degree of accuracy.