The phrase "a basic understanding of how" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the level of knowledge or comprehension someone has regarding a particular subject or process.
Example: "To succeed in this course, you should have a basic understanding of how the scientific method works."
Alternatives: "a fundamental grasp of how" or "a simple comprehension of how".
Lazarus said that reading would run afoul of a basic understanding of how presidential power works.
When the genome project started, genomicists already had a basic understanding of how to go about it.
This analysis provides a basic understanding of how an unconventional geometry can impact the global parameters of an aircraft design.
The overarching problem is that one year after making their promises, the airlines still seem to lack a basic understanding of how to treat passengers, travel consultants say.
In contrast, when asked if his players lack a basic understanding of how to play basketball, Thomas paused for 16 seconds before saying: "I'll pass on that".
Perhaps the biggest problem with maximizing a social welfare function like utility is practical: We economists often have only a basic understanding of how most policies work.
Ideal for your systems-based curriculum, this fully updated medical textbook provides you with a basic understanding of how the GI system functions in both health and disease.
With a basic understanding of how studies are done and access to the Web, you can often find out as much as you need to know.
To give students a basic understanding of how semiconductor devices work and how they are used in analog and digital integrated circuits.
Unfortunately, most antibodies to HIV-1 are narrow in their specificity, and a basic understanding of how to develop antibodies with broad neutralizing activity is needed.
The course will provide a basic understanding of how the ocean functions as a suite of interconnected ecosystems, both naturally and under the influence of human activities.
