a pervasive understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pervasive understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deep and widespread comprehension of a concept or issue. Example: "The research highlighted a pervasive understanding of climate change among the younger generation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"My feeling of unease is also informed by what I sense is a pervasive understanding throughout the nation that there is no certainty about our future with regard to any of our known challenges, and therefore the future of the nation".

The Guardian

Despite a pervasive understanding that tobacco is harmful and that young people should not start, there were several areas of ambiguity and conflict in the understanding of tobacco use.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I'd personally like to see a more pervasive understanding of the value of diversity in medicine.

Stanford University

Pervasive use of data and analytics by an organization requires pervasive understanding of data and analytics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Uncovering a pervasive instrumental understanding of higher education during that era, The Instrumental University shows that universities framed their mission around solving social problems and promoting economic development as central institutions in what would soon be called the knowledge economy.

Cornell University

However, while knowledge at the molecular, organism, patch and community scale is pervasive, understanding of seagrass landscape ecology is more fragmentary and has not been synthesized.

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

They warn marketers, however, that "online retailing is still in flux," and that although the agency model has "become a pervasive phenomenon, the understanding of this phenomenon is limited". "This is one more reason why we should be extra careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water," Zhang says.

Forbes

Instead of watching as building materials are distributed, we could witness an entire country traumatized by a pervasive lack of understanding of the emotional needs of victims of a major disaster.

Huffington Post

There is a pervasive belief that tea requires understanding and appreciation.

The Economist

Alcoholism is a pervasive social problem, and thus understanding factors that regulate alcohol (ethanol) reward is important for designing effective therapies.

Alcohol

Ultimately, engineering productive industrial biocatalysts with tolerance traits will be a pervasive biotechnological problem, and rationally engineering these traits will require an understanding of interacting genes and biological processes that affect tolerance.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pervasive understanding" when you want to emphasize that a particular concept or idea is widely and deeply comprehended within a group or society.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "a pervasive understanding" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "common knowledge" or "general awareness" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pervasive understanding" functions as a noun phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is used to denote a widespread and deeply rooted comprehension of something. Examples show it describing understanding of societal issues, concepts, or beliefs within a community.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a pervasive understanding" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a widespread and deeply ingrained comprehension of a topic or concept. As noted by Ludwig, its usage is appropriate in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing, indicating a neutral to formal register. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys the idea that understanding is not limited to a few individuals but extends across a larger group. When aiming for simpler language, alternatives like "widespread awareness" or "common knowledge" can be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a widespread awareness

Replaces "understanding" with "awareness", emphasizing knowledge rather than comprehension.

a general comprehension

Substitutes "pervasive" with "general", suggesting a common rather than deeply ingrained understanding.

a common knowledge

Focuses on shared facts rather than a deeper grasp of concepts.

a broad consensus

Shifts the focus to agreement rather than individual understanding.

an extensive recognition

Emphasizes acknowledgement of something's existence or importance.

a well-established notion

Highlights the firmness and acceptance of an idea.

a dominant viewpoint

Implies a prevailing opinion, not necessarily based on deep understanding.

a universal appreciation

Replaces "understanding" with "appreciation", focusing on valuing something.

a society-wide cognizance

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe widespread knowledge in a society.

a collective insight

Focuses on the shared nature of understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "a pervasive understanding" to describe a widely held and deeply ingrained comprehension of something. For example, "There is "a pervasive understanding" of the importance of education in modern society."

What are some alternatives to "a pervasive understanding"?

Alternatives include "a widespread awareness", "a general comprehension", or "common knowledge", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a pervasive understanding" formal or informal?

"A pervasive understanding" leans towards formal. In more casual contexts, consider alternatives like "widely known" or "generally accepted".

What's the difference between "a pervasive understanding" and "a deep understanding"?

"A deep understanding" refers to an individual's profound comprehension, while ""a pervasive understanding"" indicates that this level of comprehension is widespread among a group or population.