working familiarity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working familiarity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of knowledge or understanding of a subject that is sufficient for practical purposes, but not necessarily expert-level. Example: "While I don't have extensive experience in the field, I have a working familiarity with the key concepts and practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

That may serve Mr. Hardin to some degree because he already has a working familiarity with her.

The New York Times

Colleagues suggest that this ability helped Deisseroth to acquire the wide-ranging knowledge necessary for the development of optogenetics, which required a working familiarity with virology, optics, animal behavior, genetics, 3-D imaging, microbiology, materials science, and chemistry.

The New Yorker

As its subtitle A Novel About the History of Philosophy suggests, Sophie's World aims as much at acquainting its young (and older) readers with a working familiarity with the history of philosophy as at encouraging philosophical reflection itself.

SEP

While the tonal character of the spoken language is a challenge, this can be mastered fairly quickly, in contrast to the many years needed to achieve a working familiarity with the several thousand written characters that most educated Chinese adults have learned.

Huffington Post

This chapter provides the reader with a broad working familiarity and understanding of exergy and analysis techniques based upon it by discussing the broader aspects of exergy in areas such as economics and environment and illustrating applications of exergy to many different systems in hopes of explaining how to apply exergy methods beneficially.

EXERGY Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is easy to forget that the forms on those posters Blu-tacked to our teenage bedrooms – the eggs and ovoids, the rocks that morph into flesh and back into rocks again – were all his own work: familiarity with them has bred contempt.

Independent

We should also be mindful of social structure, as we may have two different factors at work: familiarity and group membership.

Plosone

Six factors were identified by those who had agreed to participate in the trial as encouraging their participation: relevance of the study to participants' own work; familiarity with the researchers; personal view of the importance of using research evidence in policymaking; academic background; support from supervisors; and participation of colleagues.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Participants cited a number of factors that encouraged their participation in the trial, which included the relevance of the trial to their own work; familiarity with the researchers; personal view of the importance of using research evidence in policymaking; academic background; support from supervisors and the Assistant Deputy Minister; and the participation of colleagues.

Health Research Policy and Systems

TERMS OF REFERENCE Minimum requirements and competencies:  Excellent proficiency in English is required  Minimum of 2 years of UN and International work experience  Familiarity UN Coherence and the latest UNDG guidance related to fund management, including joint programmes, is required.

Unicef

As you're working, use your familiarity with common words and sentence structure to start making logical guesses.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "working familiarity" to indicate a level of knowledge sufficient for practical application but not necessarily expert-level understanding. This implies capability without suggesting mastery.

Common error

Avoid using "working familiarity" when describing expert-level knowledge. This phrase suggests a practical understanding rather than comprehensive expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working familiarity" functions as a noun phrase that describes the level of knowledge or understanding someone has about a particular subject or skill. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "working familiarity" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe a level of knowledge sufficient for practical purposes, but not necessarily expert-level. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, and our analysis shows it's most commonly found in news and science contexts. Related phrases include "practical knowledge" and "basic understanding". When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the level of expertise, avoiding overstatements. Remember to convey capability without suggesting complete mastery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working knowledge

This is a very close synonym, with slight differences in emphasis.

practical knowledge

Focuses on the utility of the knowledge rather than the level of understanding.

basic understanding

Emphasizes the foundational aspect of the knowledge.

functional knowledge

Highlights the ability to use the knowledge effectively.

conversant knowledge

Implies an ease and fluency in discussing the subject.

adequate grasp

Suggests a sufficient, though not necessarily complete, understanding.

competent understanding

Highlights the user's capability in understanding something.

proficient understanding

Highlights the user's efficiency in understanding something.

introductory knowledge

Emphasizes that the knowledge is at a beginner level.

preliminary understanding

Stresses the initial or early stage of understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "working familiarity" in a sentence?

You can use "working familiarity" to describe a basic or practical understanding of a subject. For example: "While I don't have extensive experience, I have a "working familiarity" with the software."

What's a good alternative to "working familiarity"?

Alternatives include "practical knowledge", "basic understanding", or "functional knowledge", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "working familiarity" formal or informal?

"Working familiarity" is suitable for both professional and neutral contexts. It's a relatively straightforward phrase that avoids being overly technical or casual.

What's the difference between "working familiarity" and "deep understanding"?

"Working familiarity" implies a practical, usable knowledge, while "deep understanding" suggests a more thorough and comprehensive grasp of the subject.