what we know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what we know" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a pronoun phrase to refer to the information known by the collective group of people you are referencing. For example, "What we know about the development of technology in the last decade is astounding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here's what we know.

Forbes

That is what we know.

The New Yorker

We like what we know.

The New York Times

Here's What We Know.

The New York Times

"Shows what we know".

The New York Times - Sports

Here is what we know.

Stanford University

That's what we know you as".

The New York Times - Sports

This is what we know about them.

Independent

We only know what we know.

Independent

Here is some of what we know.

The New York Times

"And what we know is very grave".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "what we know" with phrases like "what we don't know" to provide a balanced overview of a topic, highlighting both certainty and uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid presenting "what we know" as an absolute truth. Acknowledge that knowledge evolves and can be subject to revision with new evidence. Instead frame it as "based on what we currently know".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what we know" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a summary of information that is commonly accepted or understood within a specific context. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and can be used to refer to the information known by a collective group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

31%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what we know" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to introduce established information or shared understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific sources, this phrase serves to provide a foundation of common knowledge before delving into further details or analysis. When using "what we know", it's important to acknowledge the potential for knowledge to evolve and avoid presenting it as an absolute truth. Alternatives like "our current understanding" or "to the best of our knowledge" can provide nuanced expressions of the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

our current understanding

Focuses on the present state of comprehension.

what is currently understood

Highlights general agreement on the understanding of a topic.

the extent of our knowledge

Emphasizes the scope or limit of existing knowledge.

what has been ascertained

Focuses on the knowledge that has been definitely discovered or established.

the established knowledge base

Suggests a foundation of accepted information.

the information available to us

Highlights the accessibility of the knowledge.

our collective awareness

Emphasizes shared knowledge among a group.

the facts at our disposal

Stresses the factual basis of the knowledge.

the sum of our knowledge

Highlights the cumulative aspect of knowing.

the data we possess

Highlights the tangible, factual nature of the information.

FAQs

How can I use "what we know" in a sentence?

You can use "what we know" to introduce a summary of established facts. For example, "What we know about climate change is based on decades of research."

What are some alternatives to using "what we know"?

Alternatives include phrases like "our current understanding", "to the best of our knowledge", or "the available evidence suggests", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "what we know" or "what we knew"?

Use "what we know" to refer to current knowledge. Use "what we knew" to refer to knowledge that was held in the past but may no longer be accurate or complete.

What's the difference between "what we know" and "what we believe"?

"What we know" implies a degree of certainty supported by evidence, while "what we believe" refers to opinions or convictions that may not be based on concrete evidence.