unknown to us

USAGE SUMMARY

"unknown to us" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that neither you nor anyone else is personally aware of. For example, "The path to success was unknown to us, so we forged our own way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

GenBank sequences and species affiliations were not used in clustering optimization because the underlying taxonomic concepts were unknown to us.

Plosone

Moreover, the algorithm used in any commercial camera is proprietary and secret, and therefore unknown to us.

Stanford University

It is really unknown to us.

The Guardian

Myriad organisms, most unknown to us, live there.

Biotechnology Advances

Nor is policy inertia unknown to us here.

The New York Times - Books

"It was something that was just so unknown to us".

The New York Times - Sports

The meaning of it all remains unknown to us.

The New Yorker

Microbial scientists believe the vast majority of microbes are still unknown to us.

Harvard University

"Lacedaemonians and allies, the rule established among the Hellenes is not unknown to us.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Yet they are mostly invisible, and the vast majority of microbes are still unknown to us.

Harvard University

Back then the words "El Niño" and "La Niña" were unknown to us.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unknown to us" to clearly indicate a lack of awareness or knowledge shared among a group. It's effective for setting up surprises, plot twists, or explaining past oversights.

Common error

While similar, "unbeknownst to us" implies that something happened without our knowledge, often with a sense of secrecy or surprise. "Unknown to us" simply means we lacked the information. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unknown to us" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It indicates a state of unawareness or lack of knowledge on the part of the speaker or a group they represent. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is both correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unknown to us" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase to express a shared lack of awareness or knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts, showing its broad applicability. Alternatives like "unbeknownst to us" offer nuanced variations. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a genuine lack of awareness, distinguishing it from situations where something was actively concealed. With its widespread use and clear meaning, "unknown to us" remains a valuable tool for writers across diverse fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unbeknownst to us

Similar in meaning, but adds a sense of something happening without our awareness.

We were unaware

Directly states a lack of awareness at a specific time.

We had no knowledge of

Emphasizes the absence of information or understanding.

It escaped our notice

Highlights that something was missed or overlooked.

We didn't realize

Indicates a failure to understand or recognize something.

It was a mystery to us

Suggests something is puzzling or difficult to understand.

We were ignorant of

Implies a lack of information or education about something.

It was concealed from us

Indicates that information was deliberately kept secret.

Beyond our ken

A more formal way to express something is outside of our knowledge or understanding.

Not within our understanding

Focuses on the limit of comprehension.

FAQs

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

You can use "unknown to us" to indicate that something was not known or realized by a group of people. For example, "Unknown to us, the storm was rapidly approaching."

What is a good alternative to "unknown to us"?

Alternatives to "unknown to us" include phrases like "unbeknownst to us", "we were unaware", or "we had no knowledge of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "unbeknownst to us" instead of "unknown to us"?

Both "unknown to us" and "unbeknownst to us" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Unbeknownst to us" often implies a sense of surprise or that something was happening secretly without our awareness, while "unknown to us" simply states a lack of knowledge.

What's the difference between "unknown to us" and "anonymous to us"?

"Unknown to us" means that something is not within our awareness or knowledge. "Anonymous to us" means that someone's identity is hidden or not revealed to us. They are used in different contexts.