aim to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

"aim to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a desire to gain knowledge in an area. For example: "I'm studying psychology and my aim is to understand why people behave the way they do."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Regulatory Genomics and Epigenomics aim to understand the way gene expression is controlled in cells by understanding the sequence elements and organization that govern this expression.

University of California, Berkeley

Here we aim to understand the mechanisms underlying efficient and robust emotion perception.

University of California, Berkeley

We aim to understand the mechanisms of regulation and RNA recognition by Ire1.

Princeton University

Our studies aim to understand the mechanisms responsible for providing, interpreting and executing orientation signals.

Stanford University

Some of her newer experiments aim to understand how food, insulin and glucocorticoids are related.

Stanford University

We aim to understand these relations and trace the possible origin of SWR-markers.

Geoderma

In this study, we aim to understand when firms collaborate in exploiting opportunities.

Research Policy

Overview of Lesson Plan: In this lesson, students aim to understand the need for standardization of units of measurement.

The New York Times

The research programmes should aim to understand how the drugs work as well as establishing their possible long-term effects.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their aim: to understand how drivers and pedestrians react to cars that don't appear to contain humans.

MIT Technology Review

In this paper, we aim to understand the effect of collaboration on the defect proneness software.

Journal of Systems and Software

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aim to understand" to clearly state your intention to gain knowledge or insight into a particular subject.

Common error

Avoid using "aim to understand" in very basic situations where simpler alternatives like "learn" or "know" would suffice. This helps maintain a natural and appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aim to understand" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing the purpose or objective of an action or study. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is used to introduce the reason for a particular research, analysis or learning process, as exemplified in the given contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

Academia

33%

News & Media

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "aim to understand" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to state an intention to gain knowledge or insight. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across various contexts, especially in academic, scientific, and news-related domains. While versatile, it's most suitable for formal and neutral settings, signaling a deliberate and goal-oriented approach to learning and investigation. When a simpler expression suffices, consider using alternatives like "seek to comprehend" or "strive to grasp" to maintain an appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seek to comprehend

Uses a more formal synonym for 'understand'.

strive to grasp

Emphasizes the effort involved in understanding.

endeavor to learn

Focuses on the process of acquiring knowledge.

aspire to fathom

Suggests a desire to understand something complex or profound.

intend to discover

Highlights the investigative aspect of understanding.

plan to analyze

Implies a structured approach to gaining understanding.

purpose to clarify

Focuses on removing ambiguity through understanding.

resolve to discern

Emphasizes the ability to distinguish or perceive something clearly.

target to decode

Implies an effort to decipher a hidden meaning.

mean to unravel

Suggests an effort to resolve a problem or mystery by understanding its components.

FAQs

How can I use "aim to understand" in a sentence?

You can use "aim to understand" to express your intention to gain knowledge or insight. For example: "Researchers "aim to understand" the effects of climate change on local ecosystems".

What are some alternatives to "aim to understand"?

Alternatives include "seek to comprehend", "strive to grasp", or "endeavor to learn" depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "aim to understand" formal or informal?

"Aim to understand" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for academic, scientific, and professional contexts.

What's the difference between "aim to understand" and "try to understand"?

"Aim to understand" suggests a more deliberate and focused intention, while "try to understand" implies an attempt that may or may not be successful. The first one is more appropriate in academic paper.