a partial understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a partial understanding' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express having only a limited and incomplete knowledge of a subject or situation. For example: "After attending the lecture, I had a partial understanding of the scientific concept."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

You remain an eternal tourist, collecting first impressions and getting a partial understanding.

The Guardian

At the time, no one seemed to have more than a partial understanding of why they were fighting.

The New Yorker

"Even when researchers are confused, and only have a partial understanding of a puzzle, it is important that their explanations have some element of logic and consistency".

The New York Times

Given the global reduction in biodiversity, conservation actions must occur even with only a partial understanding of the distribution and abundance of species in various locales.

Biological Conservation

Although we are still unable to predict when a volcano will erupt, we have managed to acquire at least a partial understanding of the forces that can cause the earth's plates to move, producing the not unrelated seismic phenomena of earthquakes and volcanoes.

The New York Times - Books

That inherent unreliability makes fictional children appealing vehicles for dramatic irony, protagonist-witnesses of a story of which they have only a partial understanding, whose gaps in knowledge and comprehension mirror their readers' experience and occasionally leave us terrified in the face of their ignorance.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

In traditional societies such as ancient Egypt, the Roman empire or medieval China, humans had a very partial understanding of biochemistry, genetics, zoology and epidemiology.

The Guardian - Books

There are also many contemporary resonances in a story that is in part about the attempted reconstruction of a country after conflict, "that was well intentioned and partly successful, but was also unpredictable and undertaken with a very partial understanding of the local people.

The Guardian - Books

And we adopt that belief because we understand the tools - we grasp what an enterprise social network is or we know Twitter and have a very partial understanding of their impact on our own capacity to communicate.

Forbes

However, the development of drought-tolerant varieties still represents a challenging task, being hampered by the occurrence of genotype × environment interactions, the difficulty of effective drought tolerance screening and a still partial understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plant drought tolerance (Richards 1996; Kumar et al. 2008).

Rice

The first step sometimes consists in creating a platform of partial understanding with a member of other collective for the price of impoverishing content and some deformations.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow up with the reasons for not having the full picture and what steps are needed to get a better view.

Common error

Avoid acting as though you possess comprehensive knowledge when you only have "a partial understanding". Acknowledge the limitations of your knowledge to avoid making inaccurate conclusions or giving misleading advice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a partial understanding" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "partial" modifies the noun "understanding". This phrase typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the state of someone's knowledge or comprehension. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

32%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a partial understanding" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys incomplete comprehension. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and acceptability for diverse writing needs. Analysis of usage data reveals its prevalence in scientific, news-related, and academic contexts, with a neutral formality suitable for various audiences. When using this phrase, clarify the limitations of the understanding to avoid misinterpretations. To effectively convey a concept similar to "a partial understanding", alternatives such as "a limited grasp" or "an incomplete knowledge" can be employed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited grasp

This phrase suggests a restriction in the scope or depth of understanding.

an incomplete knowledge

Focuses on the knowledge itself being unfinished or lacking some elements.

a superficial awareness

Implies a lack of in-depth investigation or thought.

a rudimentary comprehension

Highlights that the understanding is at a basic, early stage.

a fragmented perception

Emphasizes that the understanding is broken into separate, unconnected parts.

a sketchy insight

Suggests the understanding is vague and lacking in detail.

an imperfect appreciation

Highlights that the understanding has flaws and is not fully correct.

a narrow perspective

Suggests that the understanding is restricted to a particular viewpoint.

a tentative interpretation

Implies that the understanding is uncertain and subject to change.

an initial impression

Signifies that understanding is based on early interactions and may not be complete.

FAQs

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

You can use "a partial understanding" to express that someone has some knowledge or comprehension of a topic, but not a complete or thorough knowledge. For example: "After reading the introduction, I gained "a partial understanding" of the book's central theme."

What are some alternatives to "a partial understanding"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "a limited grasp", "an incomplete knowledge", or "a superficial awareness" as alternatives to "a partial understanding".

What's the difference between "a partial understanding" and "a complete understanding"?

"A partial understanding" implies that some aspects of a subject are known, but others are not, while "a complete understanding" suggests thorough and comprehensive knowledge of all relevant aspects.

Is it okay to make decisions based on "a partial understanding"?

Making decisions based on "a partial understanding" can be risky, but sometimes necessary. It's important to acknowledge the limitations of your knowledge and to seek additional information or advice when possible.