profound acquaintance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "profound acquaintance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deep or significant level of familiarity or knowledge about someone or something. Example: "After years of collaboration, I have developed a profound acquaintance with the intricacies of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Reynolds possessed great ambitions and a more profound acquaintance with the old masters than any of his contemporaries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

More's interest in Descartes's philosophy was so profound that his acquaintance, Samuel Hartlib (c.1600 1662), an assiduous "intelligencer" who keenly promoted (and facilitated) philosophical correspondence, persuaded More to write to Descartes in December 1648.

SEP

But his new acquaintances start reading profound metaphors about politics and economics into his throwaway comments about gardening.

Harvard Business Review

Someone asked if we had telephones in England; I watched "The Golden Girls," had crushes on everyone, and wisely counselled a school acquaintance on sexual ethics, despite my own profound virginity.

The New Yorker

Having a profound wish to spread erudition in Norway, he used his acquaintances in England to supply the society with enlightenment books and journals.

Wikipedia

It's profound the degree to which most of us treat strangers, acquaintances, co-workers and friends much better than we treat our loved ones.

HuffPost

Profound things.

The New York Times - Arts

"Delete them," the acquaintance responded.

The New York Times

One Facebook acquaintance suggested "cinesthesia".

The New Yorker

A new acquaintance?

The New Yorker

It's an acquaintance.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "profound acquaintance" when you want to emphasize a deep and significant level of familiarity, particularly with complex or intellectual subjects. Ensure the context supports the formality of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "profound acquaintance" in casual contexts. It can sound pretentious or overly formal where a simpler phrase like "good understanding" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profound acquaintance" functions as a noun phrase, where "profound" modifies the noun "acquaintance", indicating the depth or intensity of the familiarity or knowledge. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "profound acquaintance" is a phrase used to describe a deep and significant level of familiarity or knowledge. While grammatically correct, as indicated by Ludwig AI, it's relatively rare in contemporary usage and best suited for formal or academic contexts. Alternatives such as "deep understanding" or "intimate knowledge" may be more appropriate in less formal settings. When employing this phrase, ensure the context aligns with its formal tone to avoid sounding pretentious.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profound understanding

This alternative is very close in meaning, simply using "understanding" instead of "acquaintance".

deep understanding

This alternative replaces "acquaintance" with a more direct term for comprehension, increasing clarity.

intimate knowledge

This alternative suggests a closer, more personal familiarity than "profound acquaintance".

deep seated familiarity

Emphasizes the entrenched nature of the knowledge.

thorough familiarity

This phrase highlights the completeness of the knowledge or understanding.

comprehensive grasp

This alternative highlights a complete and thorough understanding of a subject.

extensive experience

This alternative focuses on knowledge gained through direct involvement and time.

significant exposure

Focuses on the degree to which someone has been exposed to or involved with something.

considerable awareness

This suggests a significant level of consciousness and understanding.

substantial background

Implies a well-developed understanding due to accumulated knowledge and experience.

FAQs

What does "profound acquaintance" mean?

The phrase "profound acquaintance" signifies a deep and thorough familiarity with a subject, person, or concept, going beyond superficial knowledge.

How can I use "profound acquaintance" in a sentence?

You might say, "The scholar demonstrated a "profound acquaintance" with ancient Greek philosophy", indicating their deep understanding of the subject.

Are there alternatives to "profound acquaintance"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "deep understanding", "intimate knowledge", or "thorough familiarity".

When is it appropriate to use "profound acquaintance"?

Use "profound acquaintance" in formal or academic contexts where you want to emphasize the depth and significance of someone's familiarity with a topic. Avoid using it in casual or informal settings.