know-how
B2Semi-formal to formal; common in business, technical, and professional contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Practical knowledge, skill, or expertise in doing something; the ability to accomplish a task effectively.
Specialized technical knowledge, trade secrets, or proprietary information that gives a person or company a competitive advantage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers to practical ability rather than theoretical knowledge. Often treated as an uncountable mass noun, though sometimes hyphenated as a compound noun. Implies applied competence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Spelling with hyphen is standard in both. Slightly more frequent in American business contexts.
Connotations
Neutral-positive in both; implies valuable, often hard-won expertise.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English corpus data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[have/possess] + know-how[gain/acquire] + know-how + [in/for/on] + field[share/transfer] + know-how + [to/with] + recipientVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “They have the know-how to get things done.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Crucial for competitive advantage; often associated with proprietary processes and staff training.
Academic
Used in economics, management studies, and technology transfer literature.
Everyday
Less common; may be replaced by 'skills' or 'knowing how to do something'.
Technical
Key term in engineering, IT, and manufacturing for practical implementation knowledge.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No verb form.
American English
- No verb form.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form.
American English
- No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No direct adjective form.
American English
- No direct adjective form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has the know-how to fix a bicycle.
- The company needs technical know-how to develop new software.
- Lack of managerial know-how led to the project's failure.
- The agreement includes the transfer of proprietary manufacturing know-how to the joint venture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "KNOW" (knowledge) + "HOW" (method) = knowledge of how to do something.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOW-HOW IS A TOOL / KNOW-HOW IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'знать-как' (literal calque). Better: 'ноу-хау' (direct borrowing), 'умение', 'компетенция', 'практические знания'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'knowhow' without hyphen (standard spelling requires hyphen).
- Treating as a countable noun (e.g., 'three know-hows' – incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'know-how' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's generally treated as an uncountable noun. Avoid plural forms like 'know-hows'.
'Know-how' implies practical, applied skill. 'Knowledge' is broader and can be theoretical.
Yes, the standard spelling is with a hyphen: know-how.
Yes, it is acceptable in business, technical, and academic writing when referring to practical expertise.
Explore