without realising

USAGE SUMMARY

"without realising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something happened without the person being aware of it. For example: "He opened the door without realising he had left his keys inside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You've probably used one without realising.

Independent

We changed, too, usually without realising.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They typically shoulder the costs without realising it.

The Economist

Parole boards may be biased, perhaps without realising it.

The Economist

He added: "You're selfish without realising it when you're drinking".

Independent

Jon is ambitious without realising what his ambition is for.

The Guardian - Film

Hang on, I must have won money without realising.

The Guardian - Sport

Wheatcroft had made himself a fortune, almost without realising it.

The Guardian

Without realising it, both men were collaborators on a hit.

The Guardian - Music

He dated a dominatrix for months without realising.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Fellini died without realising his dream, and now Mr Benigni has done it for him.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without realising" to clearly indicate that a subject was unaware of their actions or the implications thereof. This helps to convey a sense of unintentionality or lack of conscious awareness.

Common error

Avoid using "without realising" when the subject clearly had some level of awareness or intention. Ensure the context genuinely reflects a lack of knowledge or understanding to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without realising" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. It adds information about the actor's awareness or lack thereof, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without realising" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that an action occurred unintentionally. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It functions as an adverbial phrase, adding information about the lack of awareness of the subject. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it's suitable for various registers. When using this phrase, ensure the context genuinely reflects a lack of knowledge or understanding. Alternatives like "unknowingly" or "unintentionally" can be used to provide slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without knowing it

A more explicit way of stating the lack of awareness.

without being aware

Emphasizes the absence of conscious perception.

unknowingly

Focuses on the lack of knowledge at the time of the action.

without consciously

Specifically indicates the action was not a result of conscious thought.

without meaning to

Focuses on the absence of intent behind the action.

unintentionally

Implies the action was not planned or deliberate.

unwittingly

Highlights the lack of awareness of the consequences of the action.

inadvertently

Suggests the action happened as a result of oversight or lack of attention.

subconsciously

Suggests the action was driven by underlying mental processes.

by accident

Implies the action was unintentional and unplanned.

FAQs

How can I use "without realising" in a sentence?

You can use "without realising" to indicate that someone performed an action or experienced a consequence unknowingly. For example, "He offended her "without realising" she was sensitive about the topic".

What's a good alternative to "without realising"?

Alternatives to "without realising" include "unknowingly", "unintentionally", or "without knowing it", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "without realising" and "without understanding"?

"Without realising" implies a lack of awareness that something is happening or has happened. "Without understanding" suggests a lack of comprehension or knowledge about a subject or situation. They differ in that one relates to awareness, and the other to comprehension.

Is it correct to say "without realising of" instead of "without realising"?

No, the correct phrasing is "without realising". The preposition "of" is not needed and would be grammatically incorrect in this context.