unknown to him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unknown to him" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is not known by a specific person. Example: Unknown to him, his coworkers had planned a surprise party for his birthday.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Guile was unknown to him.

The Economist

Unknown to him, he was already being hunted.

The Guardian

Unknown to him the woman was a mental patient.

The New Yorker

And he's coming to a team that's unknown to him.

The Guardian - Sport

"Unknown to him, the war had already ended".

The New York Times

But, with the unanticipated help of Ilsa, who was previously unknown to him, he slips away.

The New Yorker

Unknown to him, a member of the Free Tibet campaign was filming.

The Guardian

But Kamran said he was grateful to the man – unknown to him – who stepped in.

The Guardian

UPDATE: The entrepreneur hired an outfit in Uttar Pradesh whose labor conditions are unknown to him.

The New York Times

Unknown to him, five of the terrorist hijackers were on his list.The FBI was impressed.

The Economist

Since he speaks of "nine signs," the zero seems to have been unknown to him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unknown to him" to add a layer of dramatic irony or suspense in your writing, hinting at information the character is unaware of, which can create narrative tension.

Common error

Avoid overusing "unknown to him" in close proximity, as it can become repetitive and weaken the impact. Vary your phrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unknown to him" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a clause, typically adding a layer of dramatic irony by highlighting information that a specific male character is not aware of, but the reader or audience may know. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unknown to him" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate a lack of awareness on the part of a male subject. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Wiki sources, serving to build suspense or provide dramatic irony. While alternatives like "unbeknownst to him" and "without his knowledge" exist, varying your phrasing is essential to avoid redundancy and maintain reader engagement. Remember to use it strategically to maximize its impact on your narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unbeknownst to him

This alternative is a more formal synonym, adding emphasis to the lack of awareness.

without his knowledge

This alternative uses a more straightforward phrasing to express the same lack of awareness.

he was unaware that

This alternative restructures the sentence to explicitly state his lack of awareness.

he didn't realize

This alternative uses a simpler verb to convey the lack of realization.

he had no idea

This alternative employs a more informal expression to indicate a complete lack of knowledge.

it escaped his notice

This alternative highlights the fact that the information did not come to his attention.

he wasn't conscious of

This alternative stresses a lack of conscious awareness.

it was a secret from him

This alternative emphasizes the hidden nature of the information.

imperceptible to him

This alternative stresses the lack of sensory awareness.

he remained oblivious to

This alternative highlights that he was unaware of what was happening.

FAQs

How can I use "unknown to him" in a sentence?

You can use "unknown to him" to introduce a fact or event that a character is not aware of, such as "Unknown to him, the enemy was already planning an attack".

What are some alternatives to "unknown to him"?

Alternatives include "unbeknownst to him", "without his knowledge", or "he was unaware that", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "unknown to him"?

Yes, "unknown to him" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a lack of awareness on someone's part. Ludwig AI also confirms this.

What's the difference between "unknown to him" and "familiar to him"?

"Unknown to him" indicates a lack of knowledge, while "familiar to him" suggests something is recognizable or well-understood.