My understanding was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "My understanding was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express your interpretation or perception of a situation or information in the past. Example: "My understanding was that the meeting was scheduled for Thursday, not Wednesday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

According to Hubbard, "my understanding was that Monolith owned the IP and Fox owned the title of the first game, which was technically The Operative: No One Lives Forever.

Wikipedia

"My understanding was we were importing legally.

Independent

"My understanding was that absolutely no one was interested.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"My understanding was that a deal like this could have been reached back in November".

The New York Times

"My understanding was that you rank them, from one to ten," the banker persisted.

The New Yorker

"My understanding was Marion True was it, they weren't going to do this anymore," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

"My understanding was that he had the media with him at all times".

The New York Times

My understanding was that an illegal immigrant commits a crime by being present in this country..

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

My understanding is about $400 a day".

The Guardian

My understanding is that he is agnostic.

The New York Times - Magazine

"My understanding is that he resigned".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "My understanding was" to introduce your interpretation of past events or information, especially when clarifying or correcting misunderstandings. This softens the statement while conveying your perspective.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "My understanding was". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "My understanding was" functions as a declarative statement introducing a past belief or interpretation. It often precedes an explanation or clarification, as seen in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "My understanding was" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a past belief or interpretation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and vary sentence structure for clarity. Consider alternatives like "I believed that" or "It was my understanding that" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was my understanding that

Shifts the focus to the understanding itself, rather than the speaker's personal belief.

I believed that

Replaces "understanding" with a direct statement of belief.

My belief was that

Focuses on the belief as the primary element.

I had thought that

Uses 'thought' to express a prior, possibly revised, understanding.

I was under the impression that

Emphasizes that the understanding was based on an impression, which might be vague.

I assumed that

Indicates a presumption made without concrete evidence.

I was led to believe that

Suggests external influence in forming the understanding.

I gathered that

Suggests that the understanding was formed from collected information.

I had the idea that

Presents the understanding as an idea, potentially less firm than a belief.

I took it that

Indicates an interpretation or conclusion drawn from something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "My understanding was" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "It was my understanding that" or "I was under the impression that". These alternatives provide a similar meaning while sounding more professional.

Is "My understanding was" the same as "I thought"?

While similar, "My understanding was" often implies a basis for your thought, such as a conversation or document, while "I thought" ("I thought") is a more general expression of belief.

When should I use "My understanding is" instead of "My understanding was"?

Use "My understanding is" when referring to your current understanding of something. Use "My understanding was" when referring to your understanding at a point in the past.

What are some alternatives to "My understanding was" that imply uncertainty?

If you want to convey uncertainty, you could use phrases like "I vaguely recall that", "I seem to remember", or "I had the impression that". These options suggest a less firm grasp on the information.