a joint understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a joint understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a mutual agreement or shared comprehension between two or more parties. Example: "After several meetings, we finally reached a joint understanding on the project's objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The agreement, cast as a "joint understanding" between the Israelis and the Palestinians, fell short of the detailed five-page document that Palestinian officials have been seeking.

The New York Times

The document, described as a "joint understanding on a code of conduct", commits Australia and Indonesia not to use intelligence to harm the other.

The Guardian

This rests on a joint understanding that the vital interests of one country cannot be put at risk without also threatening those of the other.

The Economist

A joint understanding of any economic and personnel challenges might lead to innovative solutions, such as enhanced training, that could revive an exhausted plant.

Harvard University

Chuck Hagel, America's defence secretary, said China's move was a "destabilising attempt to alter the status quo in the region".The decision to respond with an overflight of the B-52s, the Japanese insist, was a joint understanding.

The Economist

"We will put all efforts into forging a joint understanding by the end of the year for the co-operation of the (intelligence) agencies between Germany and the US and France and the US, to create a framework for the co-operation".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The large discrepancies indicate the importance of good communication between the school and the family for a better joint understanding and overall view of the child's behaviour in all social settings.

BMC Pediatrics

The workshop had the ambition to bring together a diversity of actor perspectives for exchange of knowledge and experiences, and joint understanding as a basis for future cooperation.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

The group as a whole is looking to "explore synergies, build joint understanding, and set a platform for future engagement between esports and gaming industries and the Olympic Movement".

TechCrunch

"We are taking a first principle approach, and joint by joint understanding deeply what has to be done scientifically and technologically to augment a human," he says.

The Guardian

Nolan et al. [ 20]:203] argued that person-centred care fails to "…capture the interdependencies and reciprocities that underpin caring relationships" and it does not elicit "…mutual appreciation of each other's knowledge, recognition of its equal worth, and its sharing in a symbolic way to enhance and facilitate joint understanding".

BMC Nursing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity in collaborative contexts, ensure that all parties involved actively participate in discussions to foster a genuine "joint understanding"

Common error

Avoid assuming that all parties share the same comprehension level. Always actively seek confirmation and clarify any potential ambiguities to ensure a genuine "joint understanding" has been achieved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a joint understanding" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. According to Ludwig, this phrase correctly denotes a state of shared comprehension or agreement reached through collaborative effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

29%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a joint understanding" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that denotes a shared comprehension achieved through collaboration. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though slightly more formal alternatives exist. While categorized as uncommon in frequency, its usage spans across various domains like science, news, academia and formal correspondence. When using the phrase, ensure active participation from all parties to avoid assumptions. Consider alternatives like "mutual understanding" or "shared understanding" for semantic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mutual understanding

Replaces "joint" with "mutual", emphasizing the reciprocal nature of the understanding.

a shared understanding

Replaces "joint" with "shared", highlighting the commonality of the understanding.

a common ground

Shifts the focus to the area of agreement rather than the understanding itself.

a consensus

Indicates a general agreement, potentially after discussion or debate.

an alignment of perspectives

Highlights that different viewpoints have converged.

a convergence of views

Similar to alignment, suggesting that differing opinions have become more similar.

an agreement

Focuses on the alignment of opinions or actions, rather than the comprehension.

a collaborative agreement

Emphasizes active cooperation and agreement on the course of action.

a meeting of minds

Implies a synchronization of thought processes.

a collective interpretation

Indicates a shared interpretation of something, rather than a general agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "a joint understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "a joint understanding" to describe a situation where two or more parties have come to a shared comprehension. For example, "The success of the project depended on establishing "a joint understanding" of the goals".

What's a good alternative to "a joint understanding"?

Alternatives to "a joint understanding" include "a mutual understanding", "a shared understanding", or "a common ground", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a joint understanding" formal or informal?

The phrase "a joint understanding" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, consider using "a mutual agreement" for added emphasis on the agreement aspect.

What makes "a joint understanding" different from "a common understanding"?

"A joint understanding" typically implies that the understanding was reached through active collaboration or negotiation, whereas "a common understanding" may simply mean that multiple parties happen to share the same understanding without necessarily having worked together to achieve it. "A collaborative agreement" can often further cement a joint understanding.