Say it like this
- AFAIK, staging resets every night.
- AFAIK nobody is working on that ticket.
- Not AFAIK, but check with Priya.
Use it at work
Answering carefully
- AFAIK, yes.
- AFAIK it's still in beta, but let me confirm.
Pointing to an expert
- Not AFAIK, but Priya would know.
- AFAIK no, but check with the platform team.
Formal version
- To my knowledge, the contract renews in March.
- As far as I know, there are no open issues.
Don't say this
AFAIK means you're not fully sure. Don't combine it with "I am sure".
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFAIK | as far as I know | chat | facts you're not fully sure of |
| IMO | in my opinion | chat | views and suggestions |
| IIRC | if I remember correctly | chat | facts from memory |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Someone asks if the API has rate limits. You think it does but aren't sure. Best reply?
2. _______ nobody is using the old dashboard any more.
3. Which sentence uses AFAIK correctly?
4. Rewrite with AFAIK to show you are not completely sure: 'The marketing team isn't using this report.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"AFAIK, staging resets every night."
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More about AFAIK
Real examples(3)
- answering a question in Slack
"AFAIK the old endpoint still works, but it's deprecated."
- in a code review
"AFAIK this library is no longer maintained. Maybe worth replacing?"
- in a planning call chat
"AFAIK the design isn't final yet, so let's not estimate it today."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. AFAIK is a hedge. If the answer really matters, check and confirm instead of guessing.
- ✕As AFAIK, it's fine.✓AFAIK, it's fine.
"As far as" is already in AFAIK.
- ✕AFAIK (in a client contract email)✓To my knowledge, the integration supports SSO.
AFAIK is chat shorthand. Write it out for clients.
Other forms(2)
- as far as I know full form
"As far as I know, the meeting is still on."
- not AFAIK short reply
"Is anyone using this table? Not AFAIK."
Often used with(3)
- AFAIK, no · a cautious no
- not AFAIK · you don't think so
- AFAIK, but check with · pointing to someone who knows more
Similar words(3)
- as far as I know · written out, neutral
- to my knowledge · formal
- I think · simple, spoken
Opposites(2)
- I'm certain
- I've confirmed
Questions(4)
- What is the full form of AFAIK?
- AFAIK stands for "as far as I know".
- When should I use AFAIK?
- When you think something is true but haven't confirmed it, or it might have changed.
- Is AFAIK professional?
- It is fine in Slack and code reviews. In formal writing, use "to my knowledge".
- What is the difference between AFAIK and IMO?
- AFAIK is about facts you're not fully sure of. IMO is about your opinion.
