acquire some understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire some understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of gaining knowledge or insight about a particular subject or situation. Example: "Through extensive research and discussions with experts, I hope to acquire some understanding of the complex issues surrounding climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Educators and other researchers interested in eliciting students' deeper understanding of osmosis could administer the osmosis survey to acquire some understanding of where students stand before teaching the subject matter.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

So long as the hearer can acquire some understanding through hearing, the utterance is significant even if the speaker is incapable of rational, abstract, thought, and even if the speaker has no intention of conveying a message.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Nevertheless, acquiring some understanding about these qualities is likely to be pivotal in planning a focus of clinical intervention with respect to health education packages and prophylactic measures that may improve the long-term outcomes, particularly those of people with SMI who may be at higher risk of physical health burden.

BMC Psychiatry

"If we come out of it the second time and we've managed not to acquire some degree of understanding of our own foibles and insensitivities and misunderstandings, if we wind up in this exact same moment, then we're idiots.

The New York Times

They have also acquired some discourse skills for understanding the general organization and schema of passages.

Annals of Dyslexia

The question is, how did he acquire his understanding of women of all ages and conditions?

The Guardian - Film

We slowly acquire an understanding of how the war has shaped them, their relationships and their families.

The New York Times - Books

Princess Fatima told the President through an interpreter [Weyman] that she was in this country as a traveller and to obtain an education for her sons and to acquire an understanding of the United States.

The New Yorker

To prosper in the information age, it is now necessary to acquire deeper understanding, to acquire fluency (National Research Council, 1999).

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

To acquire this understanding, a 3-D visualization technique was applied to a VAPEX model packed with glass beads.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

The European Commission?s Translation Service offers 5-month in-house traineeships for graduates who wish to acquire an understanding of its work and gain professional translation experience.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquire some understanding" when you want to emphasize the act of actively gaining knowledge or insight, especially through effort or study. For example, "To solve this problem, you must "acquire some understanding" of the underlying principles".

Common error

Avoid using "acquire some understanding" when the context implies passive reception of information. Opt for phrases like "gain insight" or "develop an understanding" when knowledge is received without significant effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire some understanding" functions as a verb phrase, where "acquire" is the main verb and "some understanding" is the object. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquire some understanding" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the active process of gaining knowledge or insight. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in academic, scientific, and professional settings. While there are several alternatives, such as "gain some insight" or "develop an understanding", "acquire some understanding" emphasizes the deliberate effort involved in learning. While not exceedingly common, its usage is prevalent enough to be recognized and understood in various forms of written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain some insight

Focuses on the result of understanding, emphasizing insight.

develop an understanding

Highlights the process of gradually building understanding.

get a grasp of

Implies a more practical or hands-on understanding.

achieve comprehension

Emphasizes complete understanding or full grasp.

attain some knowledge

Shifts the focus to acquiring knowledge rather than just understanding.

formulate an idea

Emphasizes creating an understanding rather than receiving it.

build an awareness

Focuses on becoming aware of something rather than deeply understanding it.

secure some insight

Implies effort in getting some insight.

cultivate comprehension

Highlights the nurturing of deep understanding.

procure knowledge

Formal alternative emphasizing obtaining knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "acquire some understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire some understanding" to describe the process of gaining knowledge or insight. For example, "It's important to "acquire some understanding" of the local culture before traveling."

What can I say instead of "acquire some understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "gain some insight", "develop an understanding", or "get a grasp of depending on the context.

Is it better to say "acquire some understanding" or "gain some understanding"?

Both phrases are correct, but "acquire some understanding" emphasizes the active effort in obtaining knowledge, while "gain some understanding" can imply a more passive reception of information.

What's the difference between "acquire some understanding" and "achieve comprehension"?

"Acquire some understanding" suggests a gradual process of gaining knowledge, whereas "achieve comprehension" implies a complete and thorough understanding has been reached.