without my knowing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without my knowing" is an acceptable and correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate an action or situation that occurred without your awareness or consent. For example: My credit card company gave me a complimentary upgrade to their premium service without my knowing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

When I let the hammer fall, the cylinder must have rotated without my knowing.

The New York Times

Pretty soon, without my knowing anything about it, she had started up a beauty parlor.

The New Yorker

Why is Growl on my system without my knowing about it?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Without my knowing it, my subconscious is constructing a whole new routine - jokes, songs, stories.

The Guardian

"It's quite another to do it without my knowing or consenting".

The New York Times

But without my knowing it, another part of my brain was beginning to plot out a story.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Mr. Shawn says he "held in my feelings and my problems, and they grew without my even knowing it".

The New York Times - Books

My attachment to my new country had taken shape and form without my even knowing it, until I found myself tearing up in a routine ritual of patriotism.

The New York Times - Magazine

I think a lot of what worked in that role was to do with what was happening in my life, without my even knowing it.

The Guardian - Film

Sometimes I've gone for days, even a couple of weeks, without my boss knowing what I've been doing.

Science Magazine

It would have fed that thing that I found in myself, without my even knowing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without my knowing" to clearly indicate a lack of awareness or consent, especially in situations where transparency or permission is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "without my knowing" when "despite my efforts" or "regardless of my knowledge" is more appropriate. "Without my knowing" specifically refers to a lack of awareness, not a lack of control or influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without my knowing" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the manner in which an action occurred, specifically highlighting that it happened without the subject's awareness. As Ludwig confirms, it's a valid construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without my knowing" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to express a lack of awareness or consent regarding an action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid phrase. While it's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, it's versatile enough for neutral or professional communications. Consider using alternatives like "unbeknownst to me" or "without my awareness" for a more formal tone. When writing, ensure that "without my knowing" accurately reflects a genuine lack of awareness, rather than a lack of control or understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unbeknownst to me

Emphasizes that something happened without the speaker's awareness.

without my awareness

Focuses on the lack of consciousness or perception of the event.

unwittingly

Highlights that the action was unintentional and without knowledge.

without my realizing

Stresses the lack of comprehension or recognition at the time.

without me being aware

Highlights the lack of consciousness in relation to the action or event.

without my consent

Indicates that permission was not given for something to occur.

without my permission

Similar to 'without my consent', emphasizing the lack of authorization.

in ignorance of

Formally expresses a lack of knowledge about a particular fact or situation.

without any knowledge on my part

Emphasizes the complete absence of information or understanding.

in the dark

Idiomatically describes being uninformed about something, often intentionally.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "without my knowing" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "unbeknownst to me" or "without my awareness".

What's the difference between "without my knowing" and "without my realizing"?

"Without my knowing" implies a complete lack of awareness, while "without my realizing" suggests a lack of comprehension or recognition at the time. The former indicates the information wasn't available; the latter suggests it was, but wasn't processed.

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "without my knowing"?

The phrase "without my knowing" is grammatically sound and commonly used. However, ensure it accurately reflects the situation—that you genuinely lacked awareness, not simply understanding or control. Ludwig confirms its validity.

What are some alternatives to "without my knowing" that still imply a lack of consent?

If the situation involves a lack of permission, use phrases like "without my consent" or "without my permission" to emphasize the absence of authorization.