BE IN THE KNOW

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

BE IN THE KNOW

I knew from the ~outset~ that he wouldn’t be able to research on that topic (nonstandard).
I knew from the onset that he wouldn’t be able to research on that topic (standard). Although both words (outset and onset) refer to the beginning of something, onset is used especially to talk about something unpleasant.

Some African leaders were ~negatively famous~ (nonstandard).
Some African leaders were infamous (standard). Be reliably informed that to be infamous is to be well known for some bad quality or deed, and not to be unknown.
GAB