an original understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an original understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a foundational or initial interpretation of a concept, idea, or text. Example: "The scholars debated the implications of an original understanding of the Constitution in their discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Famed Shakespearian actor Rylance said: "I love it when an author, such as Hilary Mantel, does her research and discovers an original understanding of a very familiar piece of history.

The Guardian

This would mean extricating aestheticism, subjectivism, individualism, and self-indulgent interpretations of this ideal from what Taylor (Ibid.: 15) holds to be an original understanding of that concept as achieving self-transcendence (Anderson 1995).

SEP

According to Taylor: "Like the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Process Act of 1789 and the Crimes Act of 1790, having been passed by the First Congress, are perhaps the statutes most informative of an original understanding of Congress's constitutional power over the federal judiciary".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Gibbs's early papers on the use of graphical methods in thermodynamics reflect a powerfully original understanding of what mathematicians would later call "convex analysis", including ideas that, according to Barry Simon, "lay dormant for about seventy-five years".

Wikipedia

This study brings a new and original understanding of the groundwater flow system in an important regional basin, in the context of its geometry and evolution over geological timescales.

Journal of Asian Earth Sciences

The result is a kind of existential journey that is not wholly removed from Cormac McCarthy's The Road, though Ferris has none of McCarthy's apocalypticism, just a mundane and original understanding that whatever we might tell ourselves to the contrary, our biology will sooner or later remove us from the things we hold most dear.

The Guardian - Books

N. Lasson, The History and Development of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution 478 (1937); Note, Warrantless Searches In Light of Chimel: A Return To The Original Understanding, 11 Ariz.L.Rev.

Cornell University

Among the ways in which one might be able to determine that constitutional authors did not intend, or would not have wished to endorse, a particular concrete application or result suggested by the original understanding of a constitutional provision is by appeal to the general goals or purposes we have reason to believe they intended to achieve in enacting what they did.

SEP

Moreover, as Sunstein points out, the question of "whether the original understanding of an old text should bind current generations is not at all simple".

The New Yorker

Yoo roots his controversial analysis in a brilliant reconstruction of the original understanding of the foreign affairs power and supplements it with arguments based on constitutional text, structure, and history.

University of Chicago

Corresponding things will be true of an originalist whose principal focus is original understanding: she need not dismiss entirely the relevance of original intentions, at least in some cases.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an original understanding" to emphasize a foundational or initial interpretation, especially when contrasting it with later or more developed perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "an original understanding" interchangeably with "the original intent". The former refers to a comprehension of something, while the latter relates to the purpose behind it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an original understanding" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI points out, it refers to a foundational or initial interpretation, and is often used in academic or legal discussions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an original understanding" is a noun phrase used to denote a foundational or initial interpretation of a concept. As Ludwig AI affirms, its grammatical status is correct. Although the phrase's frequency is rare, it is used in a variety of source types including news and media, academia, and science. Related phrases include "a primary interpretation" and "a novel interpretation". When using this phrase, be sure to use it to describe an initial comprehension and avoid using it interchangeably with "the original intent".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary interpretation

Emphasizes the initial or foundational nature of the understanding.

a novel interpretation

Focuses on the newness of the interpretation.

a basic comprehension

Highlights the fundamental aspect of understanding.

a fresh perspective

Highlights a new way of viewing something.

an initial grasp

Refers to the first stage of comprehension.

a formative interpretation

Highlights the role of the interpretation in shaping later views.

a rudimentary understanding

Suggests an early or undeveloped level of understanding.

a seminal perception

Indicates that the perception is highly influential and original.

a fundamental concept

Focuses on the core idea or principle.

a pioneering insight

Emphasizes the innovative aspect of the understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "an original understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "an original understanding" to refer to a primary or foundational interpretation of a concept or text. For example, "The scholars debated the implications of "an original understanding" of the Constitution".

What is a good alternative to "an original understanding"?

Alternatives include "a primary interpretation", "a fresh perspective", or "a novel interpretation", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "original understanding" or "initial understanding"?

"Original understanding" often implies a more authoritative or historically significant interpretation, while "initial understanding" simply refers to the first comprehension. Choose based on the nuance you wish to convey.

What does "original understanding" mean in legal contexts?

In law, "original understanding" often refers to the interpretation of a legal text (like the Constitution) as understood by those who drafted and ratified it. It's related to, but distinct from, the concept of "original intent".