Difference Between Information and Knowledge
Knowledge and information are often confused as two words conveying the same meaning. In reality they are the two words that convey different meanings. Information is about communication or anything that is said or told. Knowledge pertains to something that is gained through observation and experience. This is the main difference between information and knowledge.
It is interesting to note that the word ‘information’ is often followed by the prepositions ‘on’ and ‘about’ in the sentences
1. He received information of the case.
2. Do you have information on the subject?
In both the sentences mentioned above the word ‘information’ suggests a sense of ‘something which has come to be known through communication’.
Knowledge is further awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a person. It alludes to the familiarity of a thing or a fact or issue. It is interesting to note that the word ‘knowledge’ is often followed by the preposition ‘of’, as in sentences
1. He has a sound knowledge of the subject.
2. Do you have some knowledge about it?
In both the sentences the word ‘knowledge’ suggests the experimental familiarity or some expertise. Many times knowledge is used to refer to the range of a person’s perception or knowledge of information as in the sentence ‘it is not in his knowledge’. In this sentence using the word ‘knowledge’ suggests that the truth is not in the range of knowledge or understanding of the person. Thus the word ‘knowledge’ is sometimes used to mean ‘understanding’. Information can be gained through communication but knowledge can only be gained through experience. These are the differences between information and knowledge.