we had no knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we had no knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a lack of awareness or information about a particular subject or situation. Example: "When the incident occurred, we had no knowledge of the events leading up to it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

All I can say is absolutely hand on heart, we had no knowledge of it.

The Guardian

"We had no knowledge whatsoever that Sam Wyly was going to run this ad," Mr. Bush said.

The New York Times

Although American troops were stationed a mile away at Point Alpha, "we had no knowledge of that," Mrs. Herrlich recalled.

The New York Times - Travel

"We had no knowledge about the money... it was given to him and Sai Baba kept it for public use.

Independent

"When we asked Sanjay to step down as C.E.O., we had no knowledge firsthand of his complicity in the cover-up.

The New York Times

It amazed us that such a beautiful site exists so close to our home and we had no knowledge of it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"We have no knowledge of this.

The Guardian

We have no knowledge as to why".

The New York Times

We have no medical records, we have no knowledge.

The Washington Post

"We have no knowledge of that". he said.

The New York Times

"We have no knowledge of a foreclosure sale," onesaid.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we had no knowledge", ensure the context clearly specifies what the "we" refers to, particularly in formal writing, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "we had no knowledge" as a way to deflect responsibility. Instead, focus on proactive steps taken to gather information or address the lack thereof.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we had no knowledge" functions as a statement of unawareness or lack of information. It typically serves to clarify a position, deny responsibility, or emphasize a state of ignorance regarding a specific event, action, or piece of information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we had no knowledge" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a lack of awareness or information about a specific subject. It's prevalent in both news and scientific contexts, with occasional use in formal settings. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. When employing this phrase, clarity is key to avoid ambiguity, and it's best used to express genuine unawareness rather than deflect responsibility. Alternatives such as "we were unaware" or "we knew nothing about" can be used depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we knew nothing about

A straightforward and emphatic way to express complete lack of knowledge.

we were unaware

Replaces "had no knowledge" with a simpler synonym for lack of awareness.

we weren't informed

Focuses on the lack of information provided to the speaker.

we were oblivious

Implies a lack of perception or attention to something.

we had no inkling

Suggests a complete lack of even a slight suspicion or hint.

we were in the dark

A more figurative way of saying that information was withheld.

we were ignorant of

A more direct and potentially blunt way of stating a lack of knowledge.

we possessed no information

A more formal way of indicating a lack of data or details.

we hadn't a clue

An informal expression indicating a total lack of understanding.

we weren't privy to

Implies that the information was confidential and not shared with the speaker.

FAQs

What does "we had no knowledge" mean?

The phrase "we had no knowledge" means that a group of people or an organization was not aware of something or did not possess information about a particular matter.

What can I say instead of "we had no knowledge"?

You can use alternatives like "we were unaware", "we were oblivious", or "we knew nothing about" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "we had no knowledge"?

Yes, "we had no knowledge" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "have" with the noun "knowledge" to indicate a lack of awareness in the past.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "we had no knowledge"?

The phrase "we had no knowledge" is appropriate when you want to emphasize a genuine lack of awareness or information, especially to clarify a point or defend against accusations of wrongdoing.