well abreast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "well abreast" is not commonly used in written English and may be considered awkward or incorrect.
It can be used when discussing being informed or up-to-date on a particular topic or situation, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "I strive to stay well abreast of the latest developments in technology to remain competitive in my field."

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Wright himself kept well abreast of new developments in science.

The New York Times - Arts

We thought we were already well abreast of Japan's status as current reigning Huh? culture until this little nugget pushed us past basic panty-machine/tentacle-porn confusion and into a new realm where we were like, "Hold on, this genuinely doesn't make any sense".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As a staff member in this office, I must acquire knowledge of the foundation's history, programs, and initiatives as well as keep abreast of contemporary issues, current funded research activity, and proceedings on Capitol Hill.

Science Magazine

Advisors are paid to develop employment networks, as well as keep abreast of the latest employment updates and trends.

Huffington Post

Your side hustle can fill those gaps as well as keep you abreast of what's going on in your industry.

Huffington Post

Evidence that the well-traveled Steiner kept abreast of the avant-garde are apparent in the many variations on of Jugendstil, Cubism and Expressionism that appear in his work.

The New York Times

"You have to have your itinerary planned out quite well, consider transportation and stay abreast of latest developments".

The New York Times - Travel

Not till we are well out — the Staten Island Ferry running abreast of us — does the East River appear, dividing the boroughs as the map says it should.

The New York Times

Parks became the founder and first president of the National Hot Rod Association at a time when streets in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley were often the scene of illegal hot-rod races, with cars zooming two abreast at speeds well over 100 miles an hour, cheered on by crowds lining the roads.

The New York Times - Sports

Conferences provide me opportunities to meet with members of the editorial team, as well as allowing me to stay abreast of hot developments in the field.

Science Magazine

We believe that the review presented in this article will be helpful for practitioners as well as for researchers to keep abreast of the recent developments in the area of NR image and video quality assessment.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using more common alternatives like "well-informed" or "up-to-date" to avoid sounding awkward or unnatural.

Common error

Avoid using "well abreast" repeatedly in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound stilted and unnatural. Vary your phrasing with synonyms to improve readability.

Linguistic Context

Well abreast functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the extent to which someone is informed or up-to-date on a particular subject. Ludwig indicates that while acceptable, the phrase is not very common and can be replaced with more standard expressions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Science & Research

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "well abreast" means to be thoroughly informed or up-to-date, but it is not a commonly used expression. Ludwig's analysis suggests that it's grammatically acceptable but can sound awkward or unnatural. As such, it's often better to opt for more common alternatives like "well-informed", "up-to-date", or "knowledgeable". While "well abreast" isn't incorrect, choosing a more standard phrase can improve the clarity and flow of your writing. Ludwig indicates that is much more commonly used in news or science-related content, but it is better to use more standard expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well-informed

Replaces "abreast" with a more common synonym.

up-to-date

Uses a more contemporary expression to convey the same meaning.

knowledgeable

Focuses on possessing information rather than staying current.

conversant with

A slightly more formal way of saying "familiar with".

familiar with

Indicates a general understanding rather than continuous updating.

well-versed in

Emphasizes expertise and deep understanding.

keeping up with

Focuses on the action of staying informed.

abreast of

Removes "well", resulting in more standard usage.

au courant

A French-derived term for being fashionable and informed.

clued in

An informal phrase indicating awareness.

FAQs

What does "well abreast" mean?

"Well abreast" means to be thoroughly informed or up-to-date on a particular topic or situation. However, it's not a very common phrase.

Is it better to use "well abreast" or "abreast of"?

"Abreast of" is more commonly used and generally sounds more natural than "well abreast". Both mean to be aware of current developments.

What can I say instead of "well abreast"?

You can use alternatives like "well-informed", "up-to-date", or "knowledgeable" depending on the context.

Is "well abreast" grammatically incorrect?

No, "well abreast" is not grammatically incorrect, but it's less common and can sound slightly awkward compared to other similar phrases.