when known as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when known as" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that was previously known by a different name. For example, "The actor, when known as John Smith, starred in many films."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Forty years ago, when known as the Long Fellow, Piggott's fame saw him ranked alongside Muhammad Ali, Pelé and George Best.

The Guardian - Sport

He has come a long way from the time when, known as "The Phantom of Fine Hall," his feet bare, his hair long and dirty, his teeth worn down to stumps, he haunted this building in a bizarre caricature of an academic life, corralling students, ranting about religious prophecies, finding empty classrooms and scrawling formulas on the blackboards.

The New York Times

And Kate Smith, who the peak of her fame in the 1940s when known as "the First Lady of Radio" and as a singer or Irving Berlin songs was the Songbird of the South, put it that: "In nearly all ballads, the words set the mood and meaning, while the music intensifies or enhances them".

The Guardian - Music

The fate of the most vulnerable people – in children's homes, prisons, care homes, rehabilitation centres, adult care homes and probation services – is increasingly in the hands of private providers, just as they were when known as orphans, felons, the lame and the halt, and the aged, who have "borne the heat and burthen of the day".

The Guardian - Opinion

When known as Iron Wolf, the roller coaster held the records of the highest (100 feet) and fastest (55 mph) stand-up looping roller coaster in the world before losing them to other roller coasters in 1992 and 1996.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"It can be challenging to talk in short soundbites when you know as much as he knows," Newman said.

Los Angeles Times

But you see, Kiera, when you know as much as I do, writing a novel becomes quite problematic".

Huffington Post

When known simply as Sebastian Coe, he won the main Sports Personality award in 1979 after setting three world records in the space of 41 days.

BBC

I know when he might return, he knows as well and when he will I will tell you.

Independent

Again when, known results are easily obtained as special cases of Theorem 2.5.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The current crisis, its most severe yet, began last December, when rebels known as Seleka began attacking government targets.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when known as" to provide historical context or to clarify name changes, especially when the original name is relevant to the narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "when known as" when the original name isn't pertinent or adds no value to the sentence. Simply stating the current name may suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when known as" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a temporal clause that provides context about a past identity or name. It modifies the main clause by specifying the time period during which a particular entity was recognized by a different name, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when known as" serves to provide historical context by indicating a past identity or name. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, usage is prevalent in news, wiki and encyclopedia contexts. The phrase is valuable for clarifying name changes and ensuring historical accuracy in writing. Be mindful of avoiding redundancy by only using it when the prior name is indeed relevant. Consider alternatives like "formerly known as" or "previously known as" for similar effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly known as

Focuses specifically on a previous name or identity.

previously known as

Highlights that the subject had a different name in the past.

when it was still called

Emphasizes the change from a former name.

back when it was called

Emphasizes a point in time when something had a different name.

at a time when it was named

Similar to the above, but slightly more formal.

when it went by the name of

Adds a conversational tone, indicating a past name.

in its earlier days as

Refers to a past period under a different name.

under its original name of

Specifies that the name was the first one used.

in the era it was named

Specifies the period in which it had a certain name.

under the former designation of

Uses a more formal word to indicate a name.

FAQs

How can I use "when known as" in a sentence?

Use "when known as" to introduce a previous name or identity of something. For example, "The company, "when known as" Acme Corp, expanded internationally."

What's a good alternative to "when known as"?

Alternatives include "formerly known as", "previously known as", or "back when it was called" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "when known as" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it's grammatically correct, but ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates what the phrase refers to. For instance, "When known as the Civic Arena, it was 1961, not 1967."

What's the difference between "when known as" and "also known as"?

"When known as" refers to a past identity, while "also known as" indicates a current alternative name or alias.