Know of and know about

[tufguy]

What is the difference between "To know of" and "To know about"? Are they interchangeable?

1) Do you know of any good companies?

2) Do you know about any good companies?

Please explain the difference.

 

[jutfrank]

I'll make this simple: Use 1), not 2) because I'm confident that's what you mean. Your question is asking the listener to suggest one or more good companies that he/she knows to exist.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you "know of" something, you know it exists. If you "know about" something, you have more information than simply knowing it exists.

I know of the Kardashians. I know nothing about them.
I know of micromorphology. I know nothing about it.