aid to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aid to understand" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate form would be "aid in understanding" or "aid for understanding." Example: "The tutorial is designed to aid in understanding complex concepts in mathematics."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Firstly, the initial reaction temperature and reaction heat of these two type delay compositions were measured by means of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), which can aid to understand the reaction characteristics in advance.

Combustion and Flame

"The authors are correct to point out that JIF should only be used as an aid to understand the impact of a journal," says James Pringle, Thomson Reuters' head of Industry Development and Innovation, IP & Science in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Science Magazine

Moreover, the results aid to understand the activity dynamics of wild-type and mutant PAH under physiological and pathological conditions, as well as BH4-responsiveness in certain PKU mutations.

Molecular Genetics and Metabolism

This chapter provides an overview of the book, "Cable engineering for local area networks," which is written as an aid to understand the complexities of structured or premises cabling systems that are used to make the office-based Local area Networks (LANs) work.

Cable Engineering for Local Area Networks

Investigation of the cellular roles and tissue localization of these ether PC and SM species would aid to understand the molecular mechanisms by which these lipids contribute to familial longevity and healthy aging.

Aging Cell

As an aid to understand the possible consequences for the generation of cellular asymmetry of Fj acting on either Ft or Ds or both, we generated a computational model reflecting a one-dimensional line of cells each with two compartments, to simulate Ft Ds binding between cells according to a Fj gradient (see 'Materials and methods').

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A comparison between sputtering from Zn Al targets and pure Zn targets aids to understand specifics of the sputtering process.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Facial mimicry may also aid interpretation: To understand an expression, the brain recreates it.

Science Magazine

We review the biophysical principles and experimental tools used to study adhesion so that we may aid efforts to understand how adhesions guide these movements and integrate their signaling functions with mechanical function.

Developmental Biology

Ninety-nine percent of participants found the decision aid easy to understand and 93% felt it easy to use.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Some of the DEGs uncovered in this study should aid efforts to understand soybean drought tolerance mechanisms.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express the idea of helping someone understand, use the correct form "aid in understanding" or "aid for understanding" for grammatical precision.

Common error

Avoid using "aid to understand" because it's grammatically flawed. Instead, opt for "aid in understanding" or "aid for understanding" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aid to understand" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. However, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct forms are "aid in understanding" or "aid for understanding". Ludwig AI highlights this discrepancy.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "aid to understand" aims to convey assistance in comprehension, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct forms are "aid in understanding" or "aid for understanding". The phrase appears mostly in scientific and news contexts, but its incorrect usage necessitates caution. Remember to use the correct preposition to ensure clear and accurate communication. Common alternatives include "assist in understanding" and "help to understand".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assist in understanding

Uses "assist" instead of "aid" and the preposition "in" for grammatical correctness.

help to understand

Employs the simpler verb "help" and a more direct infinitive structure.

facilitate understanding

Replaces "aid" with the verb "facilitate" and uses the noun "understanding".

promote comprehension

Shifts the focus to "comprehension" and uses "promote" as the action verb.

enable understanding

Uses "enable" to convey the idea of making understanding possible.

support comprehension

Replaces "aid" with "support", focusing on the supportive aspect.

contribute to understanding

Highlights the contribution towards achieving understanding.

assist with comprehension

Similar to "assist in understanding" but uses "with" before "comprehension".

further understanding

Focuses on advancing or developing understanding.

clarify understanding

Emphasizes the removal of ambiguity in the process of understanding.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "aid to understand"?

The grammatically correct alternatives are "aid in understanding" or "aid for understanding".

Can I use "aid to understand" in formal writing?

No, "aid to understand" is not considered grammatically correct. Use "assist in understanding" or "help to understand" for formal contexts.

What can I say instead of "aid to understand" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, consider using "facilitate understanding", "promote comprehension", or "enable understanding".

Is there a difference between "aid in understanding" and "aid for understanding"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "aid in understanding" is generally more common. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.