Possessing accurate, relevant knowledge from sufficiently broad and reliable sources.
Reach for it when praising a person or decision for understanding the subject before acting
Well-informed residents compared the flood maps with insurance terms before voting.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional |
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| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Fits when informal awareness of current developments fits
Careful The phrase can imply insider gossip rather than reliable knowledge.
everyday
Fits when recognition of an issue is the modest claim
Careful Awareness is much weaker than a well-informed grasp of details.
everyday
Fits when access to relevant facts is enough
Careful Being informed need not involve broad coverage or reliable source selection.
professional
briefed
Fits when someone received an organized account before acting
Careful A briefing can be selective, so briefed does not guarantee independent understanding.
professional
Fits when developed subject knowledge matters more than current information
Careful A knowledgeable person can still be out of date on a recent decision.
professional
Fits when recency is the critical strength
Careful Current information may be shallow or inaccurate despite being recent.
formal
Fits when evaluating information quality is the person's strength
Careful Discernment concerns judgment and does not prove adequate information.
literary
Fits when scholarly depth deserves elevated praise
Careful Erudition may be broad but irrelevant to the immediate facts.
well-informed decision
A well-informed decision considered the long-term costs as well as the headline price.
well-informed public
A well-informed public needs access to methods, limits, and corrections.
keep well-informed
Weekly summaries keep volunteers well-informed without filling every evening with meetings.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
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