It is our understanding that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It is our understanding that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a shared belief or interpretation regarding a situation or information. Example: "It is our understanding that the project deadline has been extended to next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

George Ledwith, a senior KPMG spokesman, said in the statement that "it is our understanding that the investigation is related to tax strategies that are no longer offered by the firm".

The New York Times

It is our understanding that further qualitative studies are necessary in order to understand how the ESF is being structured as an organizational basis of the care model.

BMC Family Practice

"It is our understanding that he is telling people he owns the Sagamore," he said.

The New York Times

It is our understanding that the theatre was in touch with Abel Ferrara, after which they declined to screen it.

The Guardian - Film

"It is our understanding that he blacked out and then came to after the contact," said the spokesman, Joel Henderson.

The New York Times

"It is our understanding that the product supplied to Sainsbury's is not only British but from our own source".

The Guardian

"It is our understanding that this would need only contain 5 percent real [Scottish] whisky," she said.

The New York Times

"It is our understanding that the tenants at Norwich Gate will be able to stay in their apartments under the new program," Mr. Dempsey said.

The New York Times

It is our understanding that after what has happened in Tskhinvali and what has been planned for Abkhazia they have the right to decide their destiny by themselves.

The New York Times

"It is our understanding that certain individuals threatened to jump from the building if their demands were not met," the statement said.

The Guardian

"It is our understanding that children as young as four or five years of age operate vehicles on your track," Ms. Galvin states in the letter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It is our understanding that" to introduce information you believe to be true, but for which you may not have absolute proof. It's a good way to express a shared belief or interpretation.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "It is our understanding that". Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives such as "We believe", "Our understanding is", or rephrasing the sentence for better flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It is our understanding that" functions as a hedge or qualifier, introducing a statement of belief or interpretation. It softens the assertion, indicating that the information is based on an understanding rather than a confirmed fact, as demonstrated by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "It is our understanding that" is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce information that is believed to be true but not definitively proven. According to Ludwig, it functions as a hedge or qualifier, softening the assertion and conveying a sense of interpretation rather than absolute certainty. The phrase is versatile and applicable across various contexts, including news, science, and business, although overuse should be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

We understand that

Shorter and more direct, omitting the introductory phrase "it is".

Our understanding is that

Rephrases the sentence by using "understanding" as a subject.

We believe that

Expresses a belief or opinion based on available information.

It's our belief that

Emphasizes the subjective nature of the understanding.

As we understand it

Indicates the understanding might be incomplete or subject to change.

We gather that

Suggests the information has been collected from multiple sources.

Our impression is that

Conveys a sense of subjective feeling or perception.

We've been led to believe that

Implies the understanding comes from an external source.

We've come to understand that

Highlights a process of learning or realization.

The assumption is that

Indicates the statement is based on an assumption and may not be factual.

FAQs

How can I use "It is our understanding that" in a sentence?

"It is our understanding that" is generally used to introduce information that you believe to be accurate, even if you do not have definitive proof. For example, "It is our understanding that the project deadline has been extended."

What can I say instead of "It is our understanding that"?

Alternatives include "we believe that", "our understanding is that", or "as we understand it", depending on the context.

Is "It is my understanding that" correct?

Yes, "It is my understanding that" is grammatically correct, but it expresses an individual's understanding. "It is our understanding that" indicates a shared understanding among a group.

What is the difference between "It is our understanding that" and "We know that"?

"It is our understanding that" implies a degree of uncertainty or inference, whereas "We know that" suggests confirmed knowledge. Use "It is our understanding that" when conveying information you believe to be true, but which lacks definitive proof, while use "We know that" when you're expressing a fact or established truth.