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Well versed

bmo

Senior Member
Taiwan
Can you say you are well versed in a particular book? Or it has to be a discipline such as politics, Roman history, etc?

He is well versed in "A Comprehensive History of Taiwan?"

Thanks.
Can you say you are well versed in a particular book? Or it has to be a discipline such as politics, Roman history, etc?

He is well versed in "A Comprehensive History of Taiwan?"

Thanks.
I think it's only usual to use well versed for quite a wide field. One book seems not enough, unless it's a huge work. I'm reading a twenty novel cycle by one author at the moment: I don't think that's quite big enough. We might say that someone was well versed in the Bible, but your suggestions of Politics, Roman History, are much more suitable.
I agree; in modern usage, "well versed" implies in-depth knowledge of a field. Nowadays, no one assumes that one could know something well if they've only read one book on the subject!
As Thomas notes, a wide field may be more suitable -- but you could still use the expression even if it was for a single book. Notice, however, that there is something mildly ridiculous in saying, for example, "I am well versed in Erich Segal's Love Story." Unless the humor this would produce is intentional, one should avoid phrasing the idea this way.
Thank you very much.

bmo
Is "to be well versed something" possible?
Is "to be well versed something" possible?
I don't think so, but if you can come up with a complete sentence in which you've seen it, or think it might work, we can probably give you a definite 'yes' or 'no'. 👁 Smile :)
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