your acquaintances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "your acquaintances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to people you know casually or socially, but not closely. Example: "I hope to meet your acquaintances at the gathering this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

It says: beware of introducing this to your family or your acquaintances.

Independent

They are no doubt people that you know — your acquaintances and neighbors.

The New York Times

"There are no direct clashes in the streets, but when every day you have one or two of your acquaintances killed, this is civil war," he said.

The New Yorker

That app, which is sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, lets you prowl through the social network looking for which of your acquaintances got symptoms before you did.

The New York Times

Facebook is a tool for efficiently managing your acquaintances, for keeping up with the people you would not otherwise be able to stay in touch with.

The New Yorker

A wedding should be about celebrating the love between two people, not showing off to your acquaintances about who can have the fanciest reception.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Maybe it was the U.S. office of one of those LOVELY ASIAN LADIES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTANCE businesses.

Forbes

Treat everyone else who isn't your friend (acquaintances) neutrally.

WikiHow

It's your project for your friend, acquaintance or whoever invited you to his or her birthday party.

WikiHow

On a related note, do not tell them how fantastic a friend or relative of yours is, no matter how brilliant or talented your acquaintance may be.

WikiHow

(This is not likely to delight your acquaintance).

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use "your acquaintances" to refer to people you know casually, distinguishing them from close friends or family members. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "your acquaintances" when you actually mean close friends. Using the wrong term can misrepresent the nature of your relationships and confuse your audience. If you actually are talking about closer connection use "your friends".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "your acquaintances" functions as a possessive determiner ("your") modifying a plural noun ("acquaintances"). As shown in Ludwig, it is used to specify the acquaintances belonging to the person being addressed or referred to.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

38%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "your acquaintances" is a commonly used phrase to refer to people known to someone, but not considered close friends. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely used across diverse platforms, including News & Media and Wiki sources. It is best employed when needing to differentiate between casual and close relationships, with alternatives like "people you know" or "your contacts" available depending on the specific context. When writing, ensure that you're not confusing acquaintances with closer friends to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

people you know

This is a more general term referring to anyone you have met or are aware of.

individuals you know

A more formal way of saying "people you know".

those you know

A concise way to refer to people within your awareness.

your contacts

Focuses on individuals within your professional or social network.

people in your network

General term for individuals connected to you through various means.

your circle of friends

Implies a group of people you interact with socially, but not necessarily close friends.

your social circle

Similar to "your circle of friends", but can include more casual relationships.

your professional network

Specifically refers to people you know through work or industry connections.

your social connections

Highlights individuals you interact with in social settings.

your associates

Suggests a formal or professional relationship.

FAQs

How does "your acquaintances" differ from "your friends"?

"Your acquaintances" refers to people you know casually, whereas ""your friends"" implies a closer, more personal bond. Use "your acquaintances" when discussing people you are not particularly close to.

What are some alternatives to "your acquaintances"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "people you know", "your contacts", or "your social circle" as alternatives to "your acquaintances".

Is it appropriate to use "your acquaintances" in formal writing?

Yes, "your acquaintances" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to distinguish between casual contacts and closer relationships. In professional contexts, terms like "your network" or "your contacts" might be more suitable.

When should I use "your acquaintances" over other similar phrases?

Use "your acquaintances" when you want to specifically denote a level of familiarity that is beyond strangers but short of true friends. It's useful when describing casual or professional relationships that don't involve deep personal connection.