unfamiliar of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfamiliar of" is not correct in English.
The correct expression is "unfamiliar with." Example: "I am unfamiliar with the new software that was introduced last week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But because both wished to remain anonymous the French were left in the position, not entirely unfamiliar, of expressing gratitude for foreign help.

The Guardian - Opinion

And now he is in the most unfamiliar of weekend company; if Murray stubs his toe overnight and heads straight for Paris, Pouille really will be the luckiest lucky loser of them all.

The Guardian - Sport

In an address at the presidential palace on Sunday, shortly after landing in the capital, Bangui, Francis pleaded for people not to give in to "the temptation of fear of others, of the unfamiliar, of what is not part of our ethnic group, our political views or our religious confession".

The Guardian

However, they are often unfamiliar of separate duties under Work Health and Safety legislation.

Case Studies in Fire Safety

A listing on the LinkedIn social network for those unfamiliar of LinkedIn, it's sorta like Facebook but primarily used to maintain professional contacts—shows that Microsoft is looking to fill several positions related to "next-generation console architectures from conception through implementation".

TechCrunch

Bob, unaccustomed to playing the role of a patient in any hospital let alone a teaching hospital, was unfamiliar of the resident title and unaware of the significance it had in the spectrum of clinical training.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In this study, infants were shown a grasping hand or an unfamiliar back-of-hand disappearing behind an occluder.

Consciousness and Cognition

But his studied advocacy of unfamiliar projects of reform had made him unpopular with "moderate Liberals".

Encyclopedia Britannica

The completion of a finished project inevitably represented the incorporation of an unfamiliar way of working.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(2) The fish were forced to achieve acceptance in the territory of an unfamiliar pair of larger fish with breeder status.

Animal Behaviour

In contrast, levels of understanding of the complex and unfamiliar topic of genetic research varied considerably amongst staff and participants.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "unfamiliar with" instead of "unfamiliar of". The correct preposition is "with" when expressing a lack of familiarity.

Common error

Avoid using "of" after "unfamiliar". The grammatically correct phrase is "unfamiliar with". Using "of" can make your writing seem unprofessional or incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfamiliar of" functions as a prepositional phrase intending to express a lack of knowledge or experience. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates the correct form is "unfamiliar with".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "unfamiliar of" appears in some sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and widely accepted form is "unfamiliar with". Ludwig AI flags the phrase as incorrect, and it's crucial to use the accurate preposition to maintain clarity and professionalism in writing. While its meaning can often be inferred from context, using "unfamiliar with" ensures grammatical accuracy and avoids potential misinterpretations. It is worth noting the phrase appears mostly in the News & Media and Scientific domains, according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unaware of

Replaces 'unfamiliar' with 'unaware', focusing on a lack of knowledge.

ignorant of

Uses 'ignorant' to emphasize a lack of information or understanding.

unversed in

Employs 'unversed' to highlight a lack of practical experience or skill.

not acquainted with

Replaces "unfamiliar" with a more formal phrase indicating a lack of personal knowledge.

lacking knowledge of

Expresses the idea of "unfamiliar" by directly stating the absence of knowledge.

uninformed about

Focuses on the absence of information regarding something.

oblivious to

Highlights a lack of awareness or attention.

new to

Indicates a recent or initial encounter with something.

strange to

Suggests the thing is unknown to the speaker.

unaccustomed to

Indicates a lack of habituation or adaptation.

FAQs

How do I correctly use the word "unfamiliar" in a sentence?

The correct construction is "unfamiliar with". For example, "I am "unfamiliar with the software"" is correct, while "I am unfamiliar of the software" is not.

What is the difference between "unfamiliar with" and "unfamiliar of"?

"Unfamiliar with" is the grammatically correct phrase used to express a lack of knowledge or experience. "Unfamiliar of" is generally considered incorrect.

Are there any synonyms for "unfamiliar with"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "not acquainted with", "ignorant of", or "unaware of" as alternatives to "unfamiliar with".

Is "unfamiliar of" ever acceptable in formal writing?

No, "unfamiliar of" is not considered acceptable in formal writing. Always use "unfamiliar with" to maintain grammatical correctness.