what knows

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what knows" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a poetic or philosophical context, but clarity is often lost in such usage. Example: "In the depths of silence, what knows the truth of our existence?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In his own words: "I am a man what knows everything but says nothing".

The Guardian - Books

Indeed, despite being notoriously busy – Hoffman already spends his weekends advising startups, while splitting his weekdays between LinkedIn and Greylock Partners, where he's a VC – Hoffman sounds enthusiastic about sharing what knows, including about how startups achieve product-market fit, how they settle on an appropriate financing strategy, and how a sales model changes as a business grows.

TechCrunch

Pay attention to what knows someday you will take a step toward an uncertain length of uncertain road that leads you somewhere more graceful.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Don't itemize what you know; teach what you know.

Science Magazine

Shows what he knows.

The Guardian - Sport

He knew then what everyone knows now.

The New York Times - Sports

What nobody knows is when.

The Economist

You know what David knows.

Forbes

What IBM Knows About CIOs.

Forbes

That's what he knows.

Forbes

Dexter Filkins: What Pakistan knew.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "what knows" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "what is known" or "what one knows".

Common error

The phrase "what knows" often appears when the writer doesn't correctly conjugate the verb 'to know' with the appropriate subject. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject by using correct forms such as "what is known" or specifying the subject, like "what he knows".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what knows" functions as a noun phrase, though grammatically incorrect. It attempts to represent the object of knowledge or understanding. As Ludwig AI indicates, it deviates from standard grammatical conventions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what knows" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that it may be confusing and provides alternatives such as "what is known" or specifying the subject (e.g., "what he knows"). While it may occasionally appear in informal contexts, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal or professional writing. The limited examples found by Ludwig highlight its infrequent and often questionable usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is known

Replaces the verb with a passive construction, indicating information that has been established.

what one knows

Adds a pronoun to clarify the subject of knowledge, making the phrase grammatically sound.

what somebody knows

Replaces 'one' with 'somebody' to denote information known by someone. It adds a sense of generality.

what everyone knows

Indicates information that is common or widely understood.

what I know

Specifies the speaker's personal knowledge or understanding.

what they know

Refers to the knowledge possessed by a specific group of people.

what she knew

Changes the tense and refers to a female's knowledge in the past.

what he knows

Refers to the knowledge possessed by a specific male individual.

what we know

Indicates a collective understanding or knowledge shared by a group.

the known facts

Shifts the focus to the established or verified information.

FAQs

Is "what knows" grammatically correct?

No, "what knows" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Correct alternatives include "what is known" or specifying the subject, like "what he knows".

What are some alternatives to "what knows"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "what is known", "what one knows", or specify the subject like "what I know".

How can I use the idea of "what knows" correctly in a sentence?

To use the concept correctly, rephrase the sentence using a grammatically sound structure. For example, instead of saying "Pay attention to what knows", say "Pay attention to what is known" or "Pay attention to what one knows".

What's the difference between "what knows" and "what is known"?

"What knows" is not grammatically correct. "What is known" is a passive construction that refers to information that has been established or is generally accepted.