pre-existing knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"pre-existing knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to knowledge that already exists before a particular event or process occurs. For example, "The students had to apply their pre-existing knowledge to complete the assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This strategy requires a pre-existing knowledge of a locus of interest which currently does not exist in migraine.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

This is because new words can be easily mapped on to a learner's pre-existing knowledge.

The Guardian

As in the previous case, this approach would work best when combined with pre-existing knowledge.

Nature

What individual women might not appreciate when someone harasses them is that the authorities will often have pre-existing knowledge of the attacker.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Using pre-existing knowledge is a practical approach which reduces design complexity, improves software architecture design and manages software quality.

Procedia Computer Science

No pre-existing knowledge of how to conduct scientific research is assumed, but students should plan to participate in interactive, seminar-like discussions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The stereotypes arise solely from the power/structural relations between the groups, rather than from any pre-existing knowledge about the outgroup.

University of California, Berkeley

With this list on the board, I asked my students to take this pre-existing knowledge and put it into practice.

University of California, Berkeley

Before delving too deep into the particularities of historical inquiry, I decided to start my students off with an assessment of their pre-existing knowledge of "good" History.

University of California, Berkeley

The deposition parameters were chosen as a function of pre-existing knowledge about sputtered Ti O N and Ti C O films.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The law of conservation of charge, the eponymous stove, the precise path of the Gulf Stream: Hyde shoves aside each of Franklin's "discoveries" to uncover thick foundations of pre-existing knowledge and scientific collaboration.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a new concept, explicitly acknowledge and build upon the "pre-existing knowledge" of your audience to enhance comprehension and engagement.

Common error

Avoid assuming that everyone has the same "pre-existing knowledge". Conduct needs assessments and provide introductory materials to ensure a baseline understanding for all participants.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pre-existing knowledge" functions as a noun phrase, where "pre-existing" modifies the noun "knowledge". It describes the state of knowing something beforehand. This is reflected in Ludwig, where it is often used to describe information someone already possesses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pre-existing knowledge" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term that refers to the knowledge someone already possesses before a new learning experience or event. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is used across various contexts, particularly in science, academia, and news media. When communicating new ideas, it's crucial to consider and build upon the "pre-existing knowledge" of your audience, while also avoiding assumptions about what everyone knows. Alternatives like ""prior knowledge"" or "background knowledge" can be used depending on the context, but "pre-existing knowledge" specifically highlights the knowledge present before something new is encountered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior knowledge

Replaces "pre-existing" with "prior", emphasizing the temporal aspect of the knowledge.

background knowledge

Focuses on the knowledge as a foundation or context for understanding something new.

existing understanding

Substitutes "knowledge" with "understanding", highlighting comprehension.

previous experience

Emphasizes knowledge gained from past involvements or events.

familiarity

Highlights being acquainted or well-versed with a topic.

prior learning

Focuses on knowledge gained through educational or instructional experiences.

established knowledge

Highlights the confirmed or recognized nature of the knowledge.

incumbent knowledge

Emphasizes knowledge that is currently held or possessed.

foundational understanding

Highlights the role of knowledge as a base for further learning.

accumulated wisdom

Suggests a broader scope of knowledge gained over time.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "pre-existing knowledge" in a sentence?

Use "pre-existing knowledge" to refer to the knowledge someone already has before encountering new information. For example, "The lesson plan builds upon the students' "prior knowledge" of the subject."

What are some alternatives to "pre-existing knowledge"?

You can use alternatives like "background knowledge", ""prior knowledge"", or "existing understanding" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "pre-existing knowledge"?

While "existing knowledge" can sometimes suffice, "pre-existing knowledge" emphasizes that the knowledge was present before a specific event or learning experience. The addition of "pre-" adds a temporal dimension.

How does "pre-existing knowledge" influence learning?

"Pre-existing knowledge" acts as a framework for integrating new information. Connecting new concepts to what someone already knows enhances understanding and retention. It's related to "prior learning" and experience.