to know vs to know about

Question

Is there any difference between "to know" and "to know about" when they refer to an abstract thing? Examples:

I know (about) this difficulty/problem.
I know (about) Engineering.

In the first sentence, it seems to me that "to know" expresses that the speaker experienced the problem/difficulty before while "to know about" only expresses that the speaker has heard or read about it. In the second sentence, it seems to me that "to know" expresses a deeper knowledge than "to know about". Are those impressions correct?

This is NOT a duplicate of ""Know about" vs. "know of"", which focus only on "to know about" and "to know of".

I have already read it, but it doesn't answer this question. — Alan Evangelista, Nov 18 '19 at 17:31
I'm not sure I'd ever use "I know this difficulty" (other than in the literary "We have known/experienced hard times" sense). — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 18 '19 at 17:32
Possible duplicate of "Know about" vs. "know of". Also What are the differences between “know”, “know about”, and “know of”? on English Language Learners, which is probably a better site for questions like this. — FumbleFingers, Nov 18 '19 at 17:57
Alan - I think answers on both the ELL and ELU questions make it perfectly clear that to know X usually implies you have personal, in-depth knowledge, whereas to know about / of* X* often simply means to be aware* of X* (perhaps knowing little more than that X does in fact exist). — FumbleFingers, Nov 18 '19 at 18:05
"She knows engineering inside out" and "She knows all about engineering" are more idiomatic, and largely synonymous. — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 18 '19 at 19:06
@FumbleFingers there is nothing in the 1st question about "to know" besides its meaning of "to be acquainted with someone", the focus is of that question is on "to know about" and "to know of". On the other hand, https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/11740/what-are-the-differences-between-know-know-about-and-know-of indeed answers my question. My question cam be closed as a duplicate of it. — Alan Evangelista, Nov 18 '19 at 22:39
I can't entirely agree with that. The second answer on the earlier ELU question says including *about* specifically implies knowledge of a specific event or characteristic related [to X] (as opposed to being personally acquainted with X in the more general sense). But as you imply, the answers to that other ELL question are likely to be more suited to learners (that *is* why the site exists, after all! :) But since we're on ELU anyway, you might want to look at this answer of mine to a very closely-related question. — FumbleFingers, Nov 19 '19 at 13:41

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 18 '19 at 23:24

I know about electrical engineering -- I've read about it a few times and know more or less what it is.

I know electrical engineering -- I have a degree in the subject and know how to do engineering stuff.

I know about his pain -- I've seen him limp and I've heard him complain.

I know his pain -- I have similar pains myself and know what he's going through.

score -1 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 18 '19 at 23:47

-1

To know is when the knowing is of the person talking.

To know about is external; it has happened to someone/thing else.

edited Nov 18 '19 at 23:47

jimm101

10,753

answered Nov 18 '19 at 23:30

Edward Thomas

1

to know vs to know about

2 Answers2