Know-how
n.capable, thoughtfuleveryday
What it means
Practical knowledge and skill gained through doing something.
Reach for it when praising applied competence rather than theoretical understanding alone
Cal's repair know-how saved the theater both time and money.
Choose between these
8- playful
practical judgment navigates a field efficiently
not when Savvy can imply commercial cunning and feels informal.
- everyday
practical knowledge
the distinction from theory should be explicit
not when This clear phrase is less compact and lively than know-how.
- everyday
ability to perform the task is the central evidence
not when Skill may be physical and does not include knowing how to diagnose or adapt.
- warm
practiced making skill deserves respect
not when Craft is narrower and often tied to producing a tangible object.
- professional
competence
work meets a reliable standard
not when Competence often sounds merely adequate; it misses the practical ingenuity of know-how.
- professional
deep specialized competence is established
not when Expertise claims deeper specialization and may come from study instead of hands-on practice.
- professional
hands-on experience
direct practice is the factual basis
not when Experience records exposure; it does not by itself establish good know-how.
- formal
repeated performance demonstrates a high level of skill
not when Proficiency measures execution and may not include troubleshooting judgment.
Said against
3- inexperience
- ignorance
- ineptitude
It naturally appears in
3- technical know-how
Her technical know-how kept the old transmitter operating.
- practical know-how
Practical know-how turned the sketch into a sturdy working ramp.
- local know-how
Local know-how helped the surveyors avoid the seasonally flooded road.