What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
known
Example
It is known that smoking is harmful to health. [known: adjective]
Example
The author is well-known for her best-selling novels. [well-known: adjective]
Example
The city is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife. [known: verb]
familiar
Example
The song sounded familiar, but I couldn't remember the title. [familiar: adjective]
Example
The new teacher quickly became familiar with the school's routines. [familiar: verb]
Example
The restaurant was familiar to us since we had eaten there many times before. [familiar: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Familiar is more commonly used than known in everyday language. Familiar is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while known is less common and often used in specific contexts such as scientific or legal writing.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between known and familiar?
Both known and familiar can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, known may be perceived as more formal due to its association with objective or factual information.
