Distinguishing Information from Knowledge

Information vs Knowledge

 
Most people consider the words Information and Knowledge to be synonymous, even though there are differences between them. To understand the differences, it is important to first comprehend what each term denotes. Information refers to a communicative idea or anything that is told, while knowledge is something that is gained by experience, through reading and observation. This article will examine the difference between the two terms and provide a better understanding of each.

What is Information?

Information can be defined as facts that have been learned by an individual. For example, a student studying for an exam learns a lot of facts to pass the exam. However, storing a lot of information does not guarantee that a person is knowledgeable. The word ‘information’ is often followed by the prepositions ‘on’ and ‘about’ as seen in the sentences:

– He got some information about the case.
– Do you have any information on the subject?

In both sentences, the word ‘information’ suggests the meaning of ‘something that has come to be known through communication’. Information can be gained through various sources, such as books, newspapers, and the internet. A person can have a lot of information about a certain topic, but this does not imply that they can make a sound judgment based on the information available unless they have the necessary experience and familiarity.

Key Takeaways

• Information refers to a communicative idea or anything that is told.
• Knowledge is something that is gained by experience, through reading and observation.
• Storing a lot of information does not guarantee that a person is knowledgeable.

What is Knowledge?

Knowledge can be defined as awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a person. It refers to the familiarity of a subject. Comparing an amateur and an expert, both may have all the necessary information, but having all the information does not always lead to success because certain aspects must be learned through familiarity and experience. This is the advantage that the expert has, being well-equipped with information and familiarity in the field. The word ‘knowledge’ often is followed by the preposition ‘of’ as seen in the sentences:

– He has a sound knowledge of the subject.
– Do you have any knowledge of it?

In both sentences, the use of the word ‘knowledge’ suggests experiential familiarity or expertise related to a subject or fact. Sometimes the word ‘knowledge’ is used to refer to a person’s range of perception or knowing information, as in the sentence ‘it is not within his knowledge’. In this sentence, the use of the word ‘knowledge’ suggests that the truth is not within the range of the person’s knowledge or understanding. Knowledge is gained only by experience, whereas information is gained by communication. This highlights the differences between information and knowledge.

What is the Difference Between Information and Knowledge?

– Information refers to a communicative idea or anything that is told, whereas Knowledge is something that is gained by experience, through reading and observation.
– The word ‘information’ is often followed by the prepositions ‘on’ and ‘about’, whereas the word ‘knowledge’ often is followed by the preposition ‘of’.
– Knowledge is gained only by experience, whereas information is gained by communication.