Known to [Verb] vs. Known for

How to use "known to" and "known for" correctly

This is an entry on my list of Common Errors in English Usage. Visit the main page for direct links to additional entries.

To be known to do (known + an infinitive) something suggests that people are aware that you tend to do that thing occasionally:

known to make a mistake from time to time

To be known for something (known for + a noun or pronoun) means to be famous for a particular skill, product, or quality:

region known for its natural beauty

musician known for his intense performances

Related Resources

Common Errors in English Usage: Errors in diction and idiom commonly made by native speakers of English

List of Common Errors in English Usage (PDF): Printable version of the complete list

Common Grammar Errors: A list of common errors in grammar (topics like subject-verb agreement and parallelism) as distinct from usage

List of Common Errors in English Usage: PDF version

© 2006, 2008, and 2019 C. Brantley Collins, Jr.