It was understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It was understood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was implicitly accepted or acknowledged without needing explicit confirmation. Example: "During the meeting, it was understood that everyone would contribute to the project equally."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was understood.

The New York Times

It was understood as a source of power.

The New Yorker

It was understood that the hospitality would not be returned.

The New Yorker

It was understood that there was something charming about me.

The New Yorker

It was understood a burst tire was responsible for the crash.

The New York Times

It was understood that I wouldn't write anything that would jeopardize their security.

The New York Times

It was understood that the doctor wouldn't say anything to Polina's parents.

The New Yorker

It was understood that if they did not leave, their lives would be in danger.

The New York Times

"It was understood by everyone there that this was stopping," Smith said.

The New Yorker

It was understood: I was in a 24-hour vacation decompression zone.

The New York Times

"It was understood at that time that the city would maintain the signs," Mr. Sandler said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It was understood" to indicate a mutual agreement or assumption that doesn't require explicit declaration. This is very common in formal communication, particularly to introduce shared background knowledge.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overuse of "It was understood" in informal settings where direct language might be more appropriate. Phrases like "We knew" or "Everyone agreed" can sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It was understood" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an agreement, assumption, or piece of information was comprehended without explicit communication. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to introduce shared knowledge or implicit agreements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "It was understood" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate an implicit agreement or shared understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news media and scientific writing. While versatile, it's important to consider the tone and audience when using this phrase; in some cases, more direct language may be preferable. Alternatives like "it was agreed" or "everyone knew" can provide subtle shifts in meaning and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was tacitly agreed

Replaces "understood" with "tacitly agreed", emphasizing the unspoken nature of the agreement.

It was generally accepted

Substitutes "understood" with "generally accepted", highlighting widespread agreement.

It was taken for granted

Replaces "understood" with "taken for granted", suggesting the information was assumed to be true.

The assumption was

Changes the structure to focus on the assumption itself, rather than the act of understanding.

The implication was

Focuses on the implied meaning rather than explicit understanding.

It was a given

Replaces the entire phrase with a shorter idiom meaning something that is certain or inevitable.

Everyone knew

Shifts the focus to the knowledge of the people involved, rather than the state of being understood.

It went without saying

Indicates the information was so obvious that it didn't need to be explicitly stated.

There was an implicit agreement

Highlights the unstated agreement between parties.

It was presupposed

Emphasizes that the information was assumed beforehand.

FAQs

How can I use "It was understood" in a sentence?

Use "It was understood" to introduce something that was implicitly agreed upon or assumed. For example, "It was understood that the project deadline would be extended."

What are some alternatives to "It was understood"?

You can use alternatives such as "it was agreed", "it was assumed", or "everyone knew" depending on the context.

Is "It was understood" formal or informal?

"It was understood" tends to be neutral to formal. In informal conversation, a more direct phrase like "We all knew" might be preferable.

What is the difference between "It was understood" and "It is understood"?

"It was understood" refers to something that was understood in the past, while "It is understood" refers to something that is currently understood. For example, "It was understood that the meeting had ended early" vs. "It is understood that the project requires additional funding."