a widespread understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a widespread understanding of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a common or general comprehension of a particular topic or concept among a large group of people. Example: "There is a widespread understanding of climate change and its impacts on the environment among scientists and the general public."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

She attributes this, in part, to a widespread understanding of the benefits of vaccines, after decades of government campaigns promoting immunization.

Nature

"There is also a widespread understanding of the need to ensure that business can properly work under any new structure while ensuring the existence of certain protections".

The New York Times

Journalists began the afternoon with leading questions, and Columbine students acquiesced so easily, because smaller-scale school shootings had already been afflicting us, and there was a widespread "understanding" of the shooter profile: bullied loner outcasts.

The Guardian - Books

Iraqis say one principal reason for this is a widespread understanding of the diplomatic timetable that, for now at least, is guiding Washington's decisions, with talks continuing at the United Nations to determine when, and if, weapons inspectors will come to Iraq.

The New York Times

"A society in which there is a widespread understanding of the nation's past, a shared appreciation of cultural reference points, a common stock of knowledge on which all can draw, and trade, is a society in which we all understand each other better," he added.

The Guardian

Here we offer a composite picture that captures what is implicit or explicit in a widespread understanding of ontological emergence from that era right up to much recent writing.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Up until the early 1900s, there was a widespread understanding that the use of the hands was essential to the development of character and intellect," said Mr. Stowe, 62. "More recently, we've had this idea that every child should go to college and that the preparation for careers in manual arts was no longer required".

The New York Times

In New York, Goddard said there is now a widespread understanding in the agency of how these elements impact social isolation and community and new specifications and actions as a result.

Vice

As difficult as the lesson has been to learn, there is now a more widespread understanding of the need to quickly embrace so-called smart cards.

Forbes

Interpreting all the information supplied by the 3-D MT studies jointly with other evidence (e.g. geological, geophysical, hydrogeological) leads us to a more widespread understanding of the internal structure of the island.

Earth, Planets and Space

As a result, they enjoy a widespread understanding that, in the event of a crisis, they would have to be bailed out by the government.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a widespread understanding of" when you want to emphasize that a particular concept or idea is generally known and accepted by many people. For instance, "There is a widespread understanding of the importance of regular exercise for maintaining good health."

Common error

Avoid using "a widespread understanding of" when you actually mean that there is a general lack of awareness or comprehension about something. Ensure your wording accurately reflects the presence, not absence, of understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a widespread understanding of" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the extent to which a particular concept is comprehended by a large group of people. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a widespread understanding of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates a general or common comprehension of a topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase finds its place in formal, academic, and professional contexts. While not extremely frequent, it effectively conveys the idea that a concept is broadly understood across a population. Related phrases like ""a common knowledge of"" or ""a general awareness of"" can be used as alternatives, depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to express. Remember to use this phrase when you want to accurately emphasize that a particular concept is broadly known and accepted, and avoid using it when you mean the opposite, namely, a lack of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common knowledge of

Replaces "understanding" with "knowledge", emphasizing factual awareness.

a general awareness of

Substitutes "understanding" with "awareness", suggesting a more basic level of recognition.

a broad grasp of

Uses "grasp" instead of "understanding", implying a firm comprehension.

a prevailing perception of

Replaces "understanding" with "perception", focusing on a shared viewpoint.

a shared recognition of

Emphasizes the commonality of the understanding using the word "recognition".

a universal comprehension of

Uses "comprehension" to mean a full understanding accepted by everyone.

a collective cognizance of

Cognizance suggests an active and conscious knowledge.

a general consensus on

Shifts from understanding to agreement, implying a shared opinion.

a common consensus about

This changes from a comprehension to an overall commonly shared opinion.

a mainstream acceptance of

Focuses on widespread agreement and adoption rather than comprehension.

FAQs

How can I use "a widespread understanding of" in a sentence?

You can use "a widespread understanding of" to indicate a general or common comprehension of a topic. For example, "There is "a widespread understanding of" the importance of recycling in reducing environmental impact."

What are some alternatives to saying "a widespread understanding of"?

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

Is it correct to say "a widespread understanding about" instead of "a widespread understanding of"?

While "about" might be acceptable in informal contexts, "of" is generally considered more grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing. Therefore, it's better to use ""a widespread understanding of"."

What's the difference between "a widespread understanding of" and "a common misconception about"?

"A widespread understanding of" indicates a generally correct comprehension, while "a common misconception about" refers to a widely held but incorrect belief. They are essentially opposites.