small knowledge of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small knowledge of" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to describe a limited or minor understanding of a subject. Example: "He has a small knowledge of programming languages, which helps him with basic coding tasks."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Although the correction terms are typically small, knowledge of the precise subtleties of the fine structure might be critical in terms of comprehending many new nanoscale phenomena.

Carbon

"ALFIE," which had its premiere at the Ziegfeld on Monday night, is the story of a playboy, so we were delighted to be able to snare MICK JAGGER -- who has no small knowledge of the terrain -- in the lobby.

The New York Times

"I think if you have any small knowledge of musicals, you're going to be all right," said Anna-Jane Casey, 36, who is returning to the Menier for the first time since co-starring in "Sunday In the Park With George" nearly four years ago.

The New York Times - Arts

"It was possible even then, with my small knowledge of the scale of events overtaking all of us, to guess that these pathetic laborers would die in enormous numbers and be the biggest victims of the railway," Mr. Lomax wrote in his 1995 memoir, "The Railway Man".

The New York Times

The first edition of "Dietary Goals" took nutritionists by surprise was written by a group of politically interested activists with small knowledge of nutrition.

Huffington Post

The only traditional tech skill I possessed was a small knowledge of HTML programming language, which I at one time used to put up static web pages.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

That he regards these gardeners as "well off" indicates little knowledge of small businesses.

The New York Times

The present study therefore adds to the small knowledge base of TAM-based PACS acceptance studies.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

These modules are designed as Open Education Resources (OER) using a pre-existing Internet platform, OpenStax CNX, hosted through Rice University, which promotes the production of small "knowledge chunks" in an open license venue.

Johns Hopkins University

Certainly last year's presidential debates demonstrated that policymakers mentally operate on an embarrassingly small working knowledge of the world.

TechCrunch

Although S can be chosen arbitrarily small, the knowledge of same δ > 0 at all the nodes can be considered as a side-information.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider replacing "small knowledge of" with phrases like "basic understanding of" or "limited understanding of" for a more direct and common expression.

Common error

Avoid using "small knowledge of" when the context implies a significant degree of expertise. Doing so can undermine your credibility. Instead, accurately reflect the level of knowledge with terms like "comprehensive understanding" or "working knowledge".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small knowledge of" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun (often a subject or area of expertise). It indicates a limited or basic level of understanding. As seen in Ludwig, this phrase serves to temper claims of expertise or understanding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "small knowledge of" indicates a limited or basic understanding of a subject. While grammatically acceptable, it can sound somewhat awkward and is less common than alternatives like "basic understanding of" or "limited knowledge of". As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase appears across various contexts, including news, science, and academia, with a neutral register. When writing, consider whether a more direct alternative might enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basic understanding of

Replaces "small knowledge" with a more common and straightforward expression of understanding.

limited understanding of

Emphasizes the restriction or incompleteness of the knowledge.

rudimentary knowledge of

Suggests an elementary or initial stage of knowledge acquisition.

superficial understanding of

Highlights a lack of depth in the understanding.

passing acquaintance with

Implies a casual or brief exposure to the subject matter.

tenuous grasp of

Indicates a weak or uncertain understanding.

incipient awareness of

Suggests a beginning stage of becoming aware or knowledgeable.

preliminary insight into

Highlights an initial or early understanding.

modest comprehension of

Indicates a moderate, rather than extensive, understanding.

slight familiarity with

Suggests a minimal level of knowledge or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "small knowledge of" in a sentence?

You can use "small knowledge of" to indicate a limited understanding of a particular subject. For example: "He has a "small knowledge of" programming languages, which helps him with basic coding tasks."

What can I say instead of "small knowledge of"?

You can use alternatives like "basic understanding of", "limited knowledge of", or "rudimentary knowledge of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "small knowledge of" or "little knowledge of"?

While both are acceptable, "little knowledge of" is often preferred for its more natural and common usage. "Small knowledge of" is less frequent and can sound slightly awkward.

What is the difference between "small knowledge of" and "superficial understanding of"?

"Small knowledge of" generally indicates a limited amount of information, while "superficial understanding of" implies a lack of depth or thoroughness in the comprehension, even if the amount of information is not necessarily small.