tenuous knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tenuous knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a type of knowledge that is weak, fragile, or not well-founded, often implying uncertainty or lack of depth. Example: "His understanding of the subject was based on tenuous knowledge, making it difficult for him to engage in meaningful discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tenuous link between knowledge and processes of urban strategy-making leads to suboptimal plans, time delays and financial costs.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

It was one of my first clinical encounters of my first rotation of medical school, the tenuous transition from knowledge-absorber to translator and caretaker.

Stanford University

Third, Freud suggested that we are far from transparent even to ourselves – that our self-knowledge is at best tenuous and provisional.

The Guardian - Tech

The story of the Friendly Club reveals the mutually informing conditions of authorship, literary association, print culture, and production of knowledge in a specific time and place the tumultuous, tenuous world of post-revolutionary New York City.

Johns Hopkins University

Given this knowledge, calling the disease "swine flu", "pigfluenza" or "pig flu" seem tenuous at best.

The Guardian - Opinion

Natural magic, by means of its body of knowledge, is able to produce specific alterations in the mobile and tenuous spiritus, which is capable of submitting to and receiving any impression.

SEP

He said he used old books and his local knowledge to make the map, approximating boundaries at times and inserting names with tenuous connections to neighborhoods, hoping to draw feedback.

The New York Times - Tech

It should be no surprise, therefore, that many knowledge workers feel estranged from their organizations their outlook distrustful, their attitude cynical, their loyalty tenuous.

Harvard Business Review

However, that argument is tenuous, because it would be nonsensical to call someone an accomplice when the crime was committed without their knowledge or participation.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Literary knowledge, difficult to define, can redeem some portion of our imaginative poverty in what seems an increasingly tenuous age for deep reading.

The New York Times - Books

Tenuous Tether.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tenuous knowledge" to describe a superficial or poorly supported understanding of a subject. It implies that the knowledge is not reliable or well-founded.

Common error

Avoid using "tenuous knowledge" when you mean a complete lack of knowledge. "Tenuous" implies some level of understanding, however weak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tenuous knowledge" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "tenuous" modifies the noun "knowledge". As stated by Ludwig AI, it describes knowledge that is weak, fragile, or not well-founded.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tenuous knowledge" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a fragile or weakly supported understanding. Though currently infrequent in the analyzed data, it serves to express doubt about the reliability of information. As Ludwig AI points out, it implies some level of understanding is present, although it is not robust. Alternatives such as "fragile understanding" or "superficial knowledge" can offer nuanced variations. When employing the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the presence of some, albeit shaky, knowledge rather than complete ignorance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fragile understanding

Replaces 'tenuous' with 'fragile', emphasizing the delicate and easily broken nature of the understanding.

shaky grasp

Uses 'shaky' to describe the instability and unreliability of one's understanding.

superficial knowledge

Replaces 'tenuous' with 'superficial', highlighting the lack of depth in the knowledge.

uncertain understanding

Focuses on the lack of certainty and clarity in the knowledge.

limited knowledge

Emphasizes the restricted scope and extent of the knowledge.

rudimentary knowledge

Highlights the basic and undeveloped nature of the knowledge.

fleeting understanding

Focuses on the temporary and transient nature of the understanding.

insecure knowledge

Emphasizes the lack of confidence and stability in the knowledge.

patchy knowledge

Indicates that the knowledge is incomplete and uneven, with gaps and inconsistencies.

vague understanding

Highlights the lack of clarity and precision in the understanding.

FAQs

How can "tenuous knowledge" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "His argument was based on "tenuous knowledge" of the subject, and therefore easily refuted." or "Her "tenuous knowledge" of the local laws made her vulnerable to exploitation."

What's a good alternative to "tenuous knowledge"?

Consider using alternatives like "fragile understanding", "shaky grasp", or "superficial knowledge" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "tenuous knowledge" or "limited knowledge"?

The choice depends on the specific context. "Tenuous knowledge" suggests the knowledge is weak or uncertain, while "limited knowledge" simply indicates a restricted amount of knowledge. If the existing knowledge is unreliable, "tenuous" is more appropriate.

How does "tenuous knowledge" differ from ignorance?

"Tenuous knowledge" implies some level of awareness or understanding, albeit a weak one. Ignorance, on the other hand, implies a complete lack of knowledge or awareness about a particular subject.