without our knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without our knowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to an action that was taken without someone's knowledge, or without somebody's consent. For example, "Our data was sold without our knowledge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Without our knowledge.

The New York Times

Corporations gather, store and analyse this data, often without our knowledge, and typically without our consent.

The Guardian - Tech

"If it was, it would have been done without our knowledge or permission".

The Guardian

Possibly 90% of the species on the planet live on without our knowledge of them.

The Guardian

And they turn our data over to law enforcement without our knowledge or consent.

The Guardian - Tech

"If they are doing this, they are doing it without our knowledge," one said.

The Guardian - Tech

"This has all been done very secretly, without our knowledge at first.

The New Yorker

The ad was placed without our knowledge through a third party.

The New York Times

While the government can't access our data without our knowledge, the citizen no longer has any anonymity in this system.

The Guardian

Fankhauser said: "I felt physically sick when I heard that our hotel partner made this appointment without our knowledge.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And then there's that whole "aiding-the-government-in-aggregating-the-world's-private-data-without-our-knowledge" thing.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions taken by organizations or systems, consider pairing "without our knowledge" with details on data privacy or security, enhancing the informative value and relevance for readers concerned about such issues.

Common error

Avoid using "without our knowledge" interchangeably with phrases like "unintentionally" or "accidentally". "Without our knowledge" indicates a lack of awareness, while the others suggest a lack of intent. Using the wrong phrase can misrepresent the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without our knowledge" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating a lack of awareness or consent regarding an action or event. As seen in the Ludwig examples, this usage aligns with Ludwig AI confirming it as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without our knowledge" is a grammatically correct and widely used prepositional phrase that indicates a lack of awareness or consent regarding an action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in various contexts, including news, business, and scientific writing. It is most often employed to express a situation where information is concealed or actions are taken surreptitiously. Common alternatives include "unbeknownst to us" and "without our awareness", although each carries slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a lack of awareness and isn't confused with terms implying a lack of intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unbeknownst to us

Replaces "without our knowledge" with a single word emphasizing the lack of awareness.

without our awareness

Substitutes "knowledge" with "awareness", focusing on the absence of conscious perception.

without us knowing

Uses a more informal, active construction to express the lack of awareness.

unwittingly

Emphasizes that the action occurred without the subject's intention or consciousness.

without our realizing

Focuses on the lack of realization or understanding of the action taking place.

behind our backs

Implies secrecy and potential betrayal, adding a layer of negativity not always present in the original phrase.

under the radar

Indicates that the action was concealed or unnoticed.

surreptitiously

Emphasizes the secretive or clandestine nature of the action.

in our absence

Highlights that the action occurred when the subject was not present or involved.

in secret

General term, indicating that the action occurred privately or confidentially.

FAQs

How can I use "without our knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "without our knowledge" to describe situations where something happened unbeknownst to you or a group. For instance, "Our private data was sold to third parties "without our knowledge"."

What phrases are similar to "without our knowledge"?

Similar phrases include "unbeknownst to us", "without our awareness", or "without us knowing". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative when something happens "without our knowledge"?

Typically, the phrase suggests a negative connotation, especially when involving privacy, consent, or security. However, depending on the context, it can simply imply a lack of awareness without necessarily suggesting harm or wrongdoing. It depends on what happened "without our knowledge".

How does "without our knowledge" differ from "unintentionally"?

"Without our knowledge" emphasizes the absence of awareness, whereas "unintentionally" focuses on the absence of deliberate intent. Something can happen "without our knowledge", even if it was done intentionally by someone else. "Unintentionally", instead, suggests that whoever performed the action, didn't mean to do that.