admittedly understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "admittedly understand" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may create confusion due to the juxtaposition of "admittedly" with "understand." Example: "I can admittedly understand why some people might feel that way, but I still disagree."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It is an option available to what we admittedly understand to be a small percentage" of moviegoers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As a light-skinned African American of mixed ancestry, he admittedly didn't understand how reporters wanted him to talk about his "black experience".

Huffington Post

My professor assigned Plato's Republic, and while at first I (admittedly) did not understand anything, eventually I became absolutely enamored with this incredible man.

Huffington Post

Think about it -- both are admittedly difficult to understand but portray some of the funniest roles on TV! Beaker is a little awkward, soft spoken and resilient even if he's down on his luck.

Huffington Post

Aaron is a meticulous, gifted reporter; Tom is a charismatic presence on camera who self-admittedly doesn't understand the news that he's reading.

Huffington Post

· Russell T Davies' inclusion is the most confusing for me (admittedly I don't understand what the other 99 actually do for a living).

The Guardian

Beyond the space, Fischer was thinking about art in Russia, both past and present, which he admittedly doesn't fully understand.

Vice

Then after a weekend of tucking colorful dollar bills in G-strings and spending sums of money you don't completely understand on admittedly fantastic bagels, you'll go home spreading the same lies you heard beforehand, so as to not embarrass yourself.

Huffington Post

Birth spacing is a well-known, underutilized, and admittedly not fully understood health intervention [ 14].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Admittedly, I don't always understand their answers (they are a bit above my enlightenment level).

Huffington Post

Last year, we funded a pilot for a water testing solution we (admittedly!) did not quite fully understand, and now that idea is a successful startup.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "admittedly understand" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "I must admit I understand" or "I acknowledge that I understand".

Common error

Using "admittedly understand" can sound unnatural and disrupt the flow of your writing. Rephrase your sentence to ensure clarity and a more professional tone. For example, instead of saying "I admittedly understand the issue", try "I admit that I understand the issue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admittedly understand" functions as an attempt to qualify a statement of comprehension. However, Ludwig AI flags it as not being a standard phrase in written English, suggesting that it does not adhere to common grammatical patterns.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "admittedly understand" is an uncommon and grammatically questionable construction. According to Ludwig AI, it's not considered standard English. While the intention is to express understanding with a touch of reservation, it comes across as awkward. Instead, clearer alternatives like "I must admit I understand" or "I acknowledge that I understand" are recommended. Its limited usage across diverse sources and contexts means you're better off avoiding it in formal writing to maintain clarity and professionalism. Predominantly appearing in News & Media and Science contexts suggests a neutral formality level, but its infrequent usage signals the need for caution. The single example with a perfect match score comes from The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I must admit I understand

Replaces "admittedly" with "I must admit" for a more natural flow.

I acknowledge I understand

Uses "acknowledge" instead of "admit" for a slightly more formal tone.

I concede that I understand

Emphasizes a reluctant acceptance of understanding.

I confess I understand

Implies a slight embarrassment or reluctance in understanding.

It is true that I understand

Adds emphasis to the understanding.

I frankly understand

Adds emphasis, and underlines sincerity.

To be honest, I understand

Highlights honesty about understanding.

I openly understand

This highlights the sincerity of understanding.

I genuinely understand

Emphasizes the authenticity of understanding.

I fully understand, admittedly

Moves "admittedly" to the end to modify the whole statement.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "admittedly understand"?

You can use alternatives like "I must admit I understand", "I acknowledge I understand", or "I concede that I understand" depending on the context.

Why is "admittedly understand" considered grammatically incorrect?

While both words are valid, their combination is not idiomatic and sounds awkward. It's better to use a phrase where "admittedly" modifies the entire clause rather than directly preceding "understand".

How can I use "admittedly" correctly in a sentence?

"Admittedly" often works best at the beginning of a sentence or as a sentence modifier. For example, "Admittedly, I didn't fully grasp the concept at first".

Is there a difference between "admittedly understand" and "I admit I understand"?

Yes. "I admit I understand" is clearer and more grammatically sound. "Admittedly understand" sounds forced and less natural. "I admit I understand" is preferred in formal and informal contexts.