0

A post says

If you are acquainted with the other person to whom you are referring

which uses the verb "acquainted with" with people.

the definition about "acquaint" on Cambridge Dictionary is with something.

to make someone or yourself familiar with something.

I didn't consider that use before, now I do.

Imagine that, Michael and Albert are friends of Schmidhuber and they don't know each other.

Michael wants to know Albert, but he thinks it would be impolite to contact Albert directly. So, Michael asks Schmidhuber does him a favor.

With Schmidhuber's help, Michael get acquainted with Albert.

I guess it is idiomatic to say

Schmidhuber introduced Michael to Albert.

where "introduce" means "help to know".

question

Is it idiomatic to say the following?

Schmidhuber acquainted Michael with Albert.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

In British English, acquaint is very formal. As this NGram graph shows, its usage peaked about 1820 and fell rapidly till 1900: since then its usage has continued to decline.

Looking at actual instances of its use both in the 1820's and in modern times, it is typically used more for acquiring information that for getting to know a person.

Schmidhuber acquainted Michael with Albert.

This sentence is grammatically correct and understandable, however it is not at all natural in current usage. The introduce version is more current.

I would generally only use acquaint in a formal, written document, and only when it concerns familiarisation with ideas. For example:

We acquainted ourselves with Fechner's scientific realism by looking at atomism. - "Nature from Within: Gustav Theodor Fechner and His Psychophysical Worldview", Michael Heidelberger

One exception which refers to people is the stock phrase "to get acquainted". for example:

At this point, it would be appropriate to introduce the new employee to the chosen mentor and allow time for the two to get acquainted - New Employee Orientation Training, Karen Lawson

Alternatively, the event may be seen as positive if the other party is a woman the man finds attractive and he views the incident as an opportunity for the two to get acquainted - Encyclopedia of Behavior Modification and Cognitive Behavior, Michael Hersen

Having introduced two people, you can use this stock phrase in speech, and it does not sound too pompous:

Mackall stepped forward, shook Norton's hand and headed for the door. “I will leave you two to get acquainted.” - For Love or Honor Bound, Derek Hart

It is easier to say "get acquainted" than say "get to know one another" (four syllables rather than seven), and the latter is a bit too informal for some people. This NGram graph shows that, despite its clumsiness, the informal "get to know one another" is gaining ground.

Improve this answer
6
  • Thanks for your comprehensive explanation. Would you please make up a situation where "acquaint" is suitable? For instance, Michael gets Albert's phone number and calls him, does this count?
    – WXJ96163
    Commented Mar 22, 2020 at 5:01
  • @WXJ96163 I have added more explanation to my answer.
    – JavaLatte
    Commented Mar 22, 2020 at 5:57
  • I really appreciate your work. Would you please explain a bit more why "I will leave you two to get acquainted" is easier to say than "to get to know one another"?
    – WXJ96163
    Commented Mar 22, 2020 at 6:20
  • @WXJ96163 i have updated my answer.
    – JavaLatte
    Commented Mar 22, 2020 at 9:05
  • @Javalatte - it is routine in British English to say that you are acquainted with someone, especially if you wish to imply that the connection is not close or intimate (i.e. you just know them, but you are not friends or close colleagues). It is not super formal. The word is probably less used in lower registers, street slang, youth talk, etc, but it is not severely restricted or obsolete as you seem to imply.
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Mar 22, 2020 at 9:40

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .