without us knowing

USAGE SUMMARY

'without us knowing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event that occurred without others perceiving or being aware of the event. For example: "We made the switch to renewable energy sources without us knowing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Was Page making important company decisions without us knowing, using his futuristic eyewear?

TechCrunch

In a week when all eyes are on Facebook and the subject of how data about us on social media platforms gets used without us knowing, there's been some consolidation afoot in the world of media-based big data services.

TechCrunch

"We don't know if they've spread or were introduced without us knowing," he says.

The Guardian

The paper's new owner, Sir Ray Tindle, told his reporters: "No cat should have kittens in Tenby without us knowing about it".The term "hyperlocal news" was not much used in those days, but that is what Sir Ray was up to.

The Economist

They cannot get in without us knowing".

The Guardian - Travel

"A revolution happened without us knowing or paying attention.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

But what she hadn't been told was that the commission had also been offered "to someone else at the same time... without either of us knowing".

The Guardian - Books

Cloning for reproduction could be done, at least for a while, without most of us knowing it, said Mark Eibert, a lawyer who has submitted testimony to Congress in favor of cloning.

The New York Times - Magazine

But, as always, the future has already happened without most of us knowing it.

TechCrunch

Yes, a lot of Google's technology runs in the background of our desktops and phones without any of us knowing how it works.

TechCrunch

I gave it to Mark the next year for Christmas, he gave it to Irving the year after and the fourth year, Irving gave it back to Paul without any of us knowing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is needed, "without us knowing" enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "without us knowing" as a crutch to obscure agency. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what caused the action or event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without us knowing" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner or circumstance in which an action occurs. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and used to describe an event that occurred without others' perception or awareness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without us knowing" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to convey a lack of awareness or consent regarding an event or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s correct for written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business contexts, it serves to highlight situations where information or control is absent. While alternatives like "unbeknownst to us" or "without our awareness" exist, "without us knowing" provides a direct and clear way to express this lack of awareness. To avoid misuse, ensure the sentence clearly indicates the actor and context, preventing any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unbeknownst to us

Emphasizes the lack of knowledge from our perspective.

without our awareness

Highlights the lack of conscious perception.

unawares

A shorter, more literary term for not being aware.

without our realizing it

Focuses on the process of understanding or realizing something.

without our notice

Indicates a lack of attention or observation.

behind our backs

Suggests secrecy or deception.

without our consent

Implies a lack of permission or agreement.

under the radar

A more colloquial expression for something unnoticed.

in our absence of knowledge

A more formal way to express a lack of information.

in ignorance

Highlights a state of not knowing or being informed.

FAQs

How can I use "without us knowing" in a sentence?

You can use "without us knowing" to describe situations where something happens without the awareness of a group. For example, "The company changed its privacy policy "without us knowing"".

What are some alternatives to "without us knowing"?

Alternatives include "unbeknownst to us", "without our awareness", or "unawares", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "without we knowing" instead of "without us knowing"?

No, "without us knowing" is the correct form. "Us" is the object pronoun, which is required after the preposition "without". Using "we" would be grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "without us knowing" and "without our knowledge"?

"Without us knowing" emphasizes the lack of awareness of an action or event, while "without our knowledge" focuses on the absence of information. They are often interchangeable, but "without us knowing" is more action-oriented.