know-how
Accumulated working wisdom
Know-how is practical knowledge of how to do something—the skills and expertise gained through experience rather than formal instruction.
Someone with know-how knows the tricks, shortcuts, and judgment calls that make work effective: She has the technical know-how to fix it herself.
The term emphasizes competence over credentials.
Skilled performance level
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- masteryComplete skill or control
- acumenSharpness of mind
- savvyPractical shrewdness
prowess · aptitude · capability · insight · understanding · adeptness · finesse · expertness
Involving direct physical engagement
- applicationFormal request document
- implementationPutting plans into effect
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
procedure · process · execution · operation · workmanship · craftsmanship · troubleshooting · problem-solving
Concealed information
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- insiderOne with confidential access
- specializedAdapted for particular function
- technicalOf specific methods
industrial · professional · vocational · craft · guild · domain-specific · industry · occupational
Learning trade through employment
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- on-the-jobOccurring during employment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
internship · practice · exposure · workshop · trial-and-error · real-world · residency · tutelage
proficiency
Skilled performance level
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- masteryComplete skill or control
- acumenSharpness of mind
savvy · prowess · aptitude · capability · insight · understanding · adeptness · finesse · expertness · skillfulness
hands-on
Involving direct physical engagement
- applicationFormal request document
- implementationPutting plans into effect
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
methodology · procedure · process · execution · operation · workmanship · craftsmanship · troubleshooting · problem-solving · mechanics
secrets
Concealed information
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- insiderOne with confidential access
- specializedAdapted for particular function
technical · industrial · professional · vocational · craft · guild · domain-specific · industry · occupational
apprenticeship
Learning trade through employment
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- on-the-jobOccurring during employment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
fieldwork · internship · practice · exposure · workshop · trial-and-error · real-world · residency · tutelage · immersion
- informal knowledgefolk wisdom, old wives tales, hearsay, gossip, rumors
- skillsskills, skill, ability, abilities, competencies
- competenzeskill, problem solving, expertise
- expertiseexpertise, skill, mastery, proficiency, competence
- hyphenated wordsup-to-date, pitch-black, jaw-dropping, round-the-clock, air-conditioned
- Resourcefulnessresourcefulness, ingenuity, cleverness, inventiveness, problem-solving
know-howignorance
Absence of knowledge
incompetence · inexperience · incapability · inability · ineptitude
know-howinexperience
Lack of prior exposure
greenness · rawness · naivety · unfamiliarity · novicehood