well familiar with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "well familiar with" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "familiar with." You can use "familiar with" when indicating knowledge or experience regarding a subject or topic.
Example: "She is familiar with the latest trends in technology."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Novaya Gazeta is well familiar with violence against its staff.

The New York Times

"So it's a debate I am well familiar with.

The Guardian

Montana is well familiar with the problems in American health care.

The New York Times

"There are serious problems in Ukraine – I think everyone is well familiar with those problems," Mr Hague said.

Independent

And he's subjected, then, to a rigor that hasn't happened yet, but that Hillary is very well familiar with.

The New Yorker

In addition, students were well familiar with, and made use of, any functions that would help them monitor or track their learning process.

Computers & Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Consumers are well-familiar with the power of comparison shopping.

Harvard Business Review

You may not be well-familiar with Rebtel, but the company is currently the largest independent mobile VoIP provider now that Skype is under the Microsoft umbrella.

TechCrunch

Founder Kasey Brown taught math for 19 years and is well-familiar with how to help remedial math students get up to speed.

TechCrunch

Bay Area residents are well-familiar with the traffic that clogs the major traffic arteries between Silicon Valley, San Fransisco, Oakland and the rest of the East Bay.

TechCrunch

And seeing as Hershberg is an investor and has been acting as an advisor to SocialFlow, he is already well-familiar with the business.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the grammatically correct and widely accepted form, "familiar with", over "well familiar with". This ensures clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

While "well" can intensify many adjectives, it's often redundant with "familiar". Omit "well" to create a more concise and grammatically sound sentence. For example, instead of saying "I am "well familiar with" the process", say "I am familiar with the process".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well familiar with" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject's state of knowing or experiencing something. While Ludwig shows numerous examples, Ludwig AI indicates that the omission of "well" is preferable and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

42%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "well familiar with" is prevalent across diverse sources, Ludwig advises caution. The core issue, as Ludwig AI points out, lies in its grammatical redundancy. The inclusion of "well" doesn't necessarily enhance the meaning and, in most contexts, can be omitted without any loss of clarity. Opting for "familiar with" not only ensures grammatical accuracy but also contributes to a more concise and impactful writing style. Although frequent, favor clarity and established grammar conventions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

familiar with

Removes "well", resulting in the grammatically correct and standard form.

well acquainted with

Substitutes "familiar" with "acquainted", maintaining a similar meaning but using a more formal term.

knowledgeable about

Replaces the entire phrase with a direct synonym, focusing on possessing knowledge.

well versed in

Uses "versed" instead of "familiar", implying deep knowledge and experience.

experienced with

Focuses on having direct experience rather than just knowledge.

conversant with

Indicates a comfortable level of knowledge and ability to discuss a topic.

abreast of

Highlights being up-to-date and aware of the latest developments.

well informed about

Emphasizes having access to and understanding of relevant information.

au fait with

A more formal and slightly archaic synonym for "familiar with".

accustomed to

Indicates that something is habitual or expected, rather than just known.

FAQs

Is "well familiar with" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "well familiar with" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The standard and preferred form is simply "familiar with".

What does it mean to be "familiar with" something?

To be "familiar with" something means to have knowledge or experience of it. It implies a level of understanding that comes from having encountered it before.

Which is better, "well acquainted with" or "well familiar with"?

"Well acquainted with" is a more acceptable, albeit somewhat formal, alternative. However, "familiar with" is generally the best choice for clarity and grammatical correctness.

What are some alternatives to "well familiar with"?

Instead of "well familiar with", consider using phrases like "familiar with", "knowledgeable about", or "experienced with" for clearer and more concise writing.