They discerned that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "They discerned that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has recognized or understood something after careful consideration or observation. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, they discerned that the initial conclusions were flawed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They discerned that the great teachers of old shared a profound understanding of Dao as the source of being and harmony.

SEP

In subsequent conversations they discerned that they were polar opposites when it came to athletic pursuits.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, the teachers paid some attention to the strategies and they discerned that some students came up with smart ways of doing the divisions.

International Journal of STEM Education

While "elaborate" is a stretch by any measure, morning may have been a deliberate choice on their part if they discerned that Trump retweets more first thing in the morning.

Huffington Post

Hume reinforced his crew with musket-armed soldiers and joined up with HMS Seaford to track the two ships, to no avail, though they discerned that the two ships had sunk a French vessel off St Christopher Island, and reported also that they had last been seen "gone down the North side of Hispaniola".

Wikipedia

Upon further analysis, they discerned that gossypol's inhibition of the autoproteolytic conversion of proacrosin to acrosin results in its contraceptive ability.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And while her doctors diagnosed hysteria, a condition "most prevalent in the young female members of the higher classes", they also discerned that excited minds seemed "to exercise some mysterious or occult influence".

The Guardian - Arts

"Mr. Roberts, Terrence McNallyy's more polished contribution, carries life in Homer to the 1970's and the puzzlement of Toby Anderson Jonathan Taylor Thomass), a high school senior, scholar, swimmer and pianist who is taunted and beaten up by his classmates when they discern that he isn't like them.

The New York Times

They'll know who lives next door, if they know that property you're calling about, and will call police on your behalf if they discern that you're not on the level.

WikiHow

The results indicate that three clusters of growers can be discerned that differ in terms of their levels of adoption.

Agricultural Systems

Distinct clusters of binding profiles can be discerned that appear to partition the ESC transcriptional program into several major subcompartments.

Cell Stem Cell

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "They discerned that" when you want to emphasize a careful or insightful understanding reached after thoughtful consideration. For example, "After analyzing the data, they discerned that a pattern was emerging."

Common error

Avoid using "discerned" in very casual or informal situations. Simpler words like "realized" or "noticed" are often more appropriate. "They discerned that the party was fun" sounds overly formal; consider "They realized the party was fun" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "They discerned that" functions as a reporting clause, where 'they' is the subject, 'discerned' is the verb indicating an act of perceiving or understanding, and 'that' introduces a subordinate clause containing the object of their discernment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "They discerned that" is a grammatically sound and relatively common construction used to report an act of understanding or recognition, often after careful thought or observation. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its formality leans towards neutral, making it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and more formal writing. While direct replacements like "they realized that" or "they understood that" exist, "They discerned that" conveys a nuanced emphasis on insightful perception. When writing, consider whether the formality of 'discerned' aligns with the overall tone, and utilize this phrase to add precision when describing a considered understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

They realized that

Focuses on becoming aware of something, often suddenly or unexpectedly.

They recognized that

Emphasizes identifying something previously known or encountered.

They understood that

Highlights comprehension and grasping the meaning of something.

They perceived that

Suggests awareness through the senses or intuition.

They noticed that

Implies casual or unintentional observation.

They observed that

Indicates careful and systematic watching or examination.

They found that

Highlights the result of an investigation or search.

They discovered that

Focuses on uncovering something previously unknown or hidden.

They ascertained that

Emphasizes confirming something with certainty.

They gathered that

Suggests inferring or concluding something from available information.

FAQs

How to use "They discerned that" in a sentence?

Use "They discerned that" to indicate that a group of people understood or recognized something, typically after careful consideration or observation. For example, "After analyzing the evidence, "they discerned that" the initial conclusions were flawed."

What can I say instead of "They discerned that"?

You can use alternatives like "they realized that", "they understood that", or "they recognized that" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "They discerned that" formal or informal?

"They discerned that" leans towards the formal side. While grammatically correct in most contexts, using simpler alternatives like "they noticed that" or "they found that" may be more appropriate for informal settings.

What's the difference between "They discerned that" and "They discovered that"?

"They discerned that" implies a careful and thoughtful understanding, while "They discovered that" suggests uncovering something previously unknown. Discernment involves insight; discovery involves finding.