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How does propositional knowledge differ from knowing how to perform a skill?

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Four colored straws in a glass of water appear bent at the water's surface, visually demonstrating the refraction of light. — Epistemology The refraction (bending) of light as it passes from air into water causes an optical illusion: straws in the glass of water appear broken or bent at the water's surface.

In epistemology, philosophers distinguish between different types of knowledge based on how they are expressed and utilized. The primary distinction is between propositional knowledge and knowing how (often referred to as skill or ability).1

Propositional Knowledge

Often called "knowing that," this type of knowledge involves the possession of specific pieces of information. It is expressed in sentences where a person knows that a certain state of affairs is the case (e.g., "knowing that the Concordat of Worms was signed in 1122"). A fundamental requirement for propositional knowledge is that the content must be true; one cannot "know that p" if p is false. This form of knowledge is typically communicable, meaning the person who possesses it can generally convey that information to others.1

Knowing How

"Knowing how" refers to the mastery of a skill or ability, such as knowing how to swim. Unlike propositional knowledge, this type of knowledge is often independent; one can possess a skill without being able to explain or convey the mechanics of that skill to others. As noted by the philosopher Gilbert Ryle, these two forms of knowledge are distinct, and cases of "knowing how" cannot always be reduced to "knowing that".1