widely familiar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widely familiar" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is known or recognized by a large number of people. Example: "The concept of gravity is widely familiar to students around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

But even more widely familiar foods can cause concern.

The New York Times

One of the few widely familiar names cited by al-Khalili makes a mere cameo appearance.

The New York Times - Books

The general outline of Lionel Shriver's novel must be widely familiar by now.

The Guardian - Film

His proof is that the second list is far more widely familiar than the first.

The New York Times - Books

Ms. Yu and Mr. Wosner ended with "Das himmlische Leben," widely familiar as the final movement of Mahler's Fourth Symphony.

The New York Times - Arts

Nyman is a bona fide experimentalist who just happens to be one of the most widely familiar composers on the planet.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

They could not even find 13 of them, the commission said, and others "were not widely used or familiar to either the public or city managers".

The New York Times

"Because Excel is so widely used and familiar to so many people, the ability to do all kinds of amazing things with that data and without complex integration is now possible," said Ben Summers, a senior product manager for the Office 365 ecosystem team, in a statement to TechCrunch.

TechCrunch

If you think the plot of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel The Handmaid's Tale, now widely studied, sounds familiar, you're not alone: the author agrees.

Huffington Post

OSCEs are a familiar, widely used method of assessing performance for HPs.

BMJ Quality and Safety

It has been applied for predicting risks in many infectious disease occurrences [ 24]–[ 26] and was used here because it remains one of the most widely used and familiar techniques used in epidemiology.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a specialist audience, consider whether "widely familiar" is still accurate. If the topic is niche, a phrase like "well-established within the field" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "widely familiar" if you are unsure whether the concept is actually known by a large number of people. If in doubt, provide a brief explanation or context to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widely familiar" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the extent of its recognition or knowledge among a general audience. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used and considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widely familiar" is a commonly used adjective phrase that indicates broad recognition or understanding of a concept. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it frequently appears in diverse sources such as news media, scientific articles, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, consider whether your intended audience is indeed likely to be familiar with the topic to avoid overstating the level of common knowledge. Alternatives like "well known" or "commonly known" might be more appropriate depending on the context and target audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widely known

Simplifies the phrase while retaining the core meaning of broad awareness.

generally known

Focuses on the state of being known by many, differing in the adverb used to describe the extent.

commonly known

Emphasizes the commonality of the knowledge, using a different adverb to highlight frequency.

commonly recognized

Uses a different verb to express recognition, keeping the adverb to indicate frequency.

universally recognized

Highlights the broad scope of recognition, changing both the adverb and the verb.

broadly understood

Shifts the focus to understanding rather than familiarity, using a synonym for 'known'.

well established

Indicates that the knowledge is firmly in place and accepted, moving away from the idea of simple familiarity.

generally accepted

Emphasizes acceptance rather than just familiarity, implying a consensus.

extensively documented

Indicates that something is widely recorded and available, shifting the focus to documentation.

a household name

Specifically refers to the fame of a person or brand, not a general concept.

FAQs

What does "widely familiar" mean?

The phrase "widely familiar" means that something is known or recognized by a large number of people. It suggests a common understanding or awareness of a particular topic, concept, or person.

How can I use "widely familiar" in a sentence?

You can use "widely familiar" to describe something that most people know about. For example, "The concept of gravity is "widely familiar" to students around the world."

What are some alternatives to "widely familiar"?

Some alternatives to "widely familiar" include "well known", "commonly known", or "generally recognized". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "widely familiar" the same as "familiar"?

No, "widely familiar" implies a much broader level of knowledge than simply "familiar". Something that is "familiar" may only be known to a specific group, while something that is "widely familiar" is known to a large portion of the population.