an overall understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overall understanding of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a general summary or overview of a particular concept or idea. For example, "Having an overall understanding of the region's history will help you make better-informed decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's an overall understanding of that throughout the business," she says.

The Guardian - Business

Both make sure guests leave with an overall understanding of the island, from birds and bears to geology and human history.

The New York Times - Travel

Such information is provided as additional information, not as an alternative to our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, and is intended to enhance an overall understanding of our current financial performance.

The New York Times

At the cognitive stage [28], a learner needs an overall understanding of the skill.

ROBOMECH Journal

Pinch methods account for conceptual principles driven by an overall understanding of the problem.

Applied Thermal Engineering

This evidences god class detection is more related to human traits than to an overall understanding of the code design.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

This background document is written to give an overall understanding of the CENELEC wind load model to EOL engineers.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

However, we are skeptical that these additions add to an overall understanding of big data, so we focus our discussion here to the original three.

Journal of Big Data

The integration of theoretical constructs from both education and psychology was considered essential for obtaining an overall understanding of university students' academic success (Robbins et al., 2004).

Language Testing in Asia

Figure 2 gives an overall understanding of the steps to prepare NDSI in the model maker tool of the Erdas Imagine software.

Environmental Systems Research

The fifth step is providing intra-class feedback during the class period, which requires an instant practical information for capturing an overall understanding of class.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an overall understanding of" to introduce a discussion, setting the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the topic.

Common error

Avoid ending your explanation at "an overall understanding of" without providing further specific details or examples. This can leave the reader without a solid grasp of the subject matter.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall understanding of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As seen in Ludwig AI, this construction introduces a summary or general grasp of a subject matter.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overall understanding of" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to introduce a general comprehension of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's frequently found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, indicating its versatility. For more precise communication, consider alternatives like "a general comprehension of" or "a holistic perspective on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to support your statements with specific details to prevent vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general comprehension of

This alternative replaces "overall understanding" with "general comprehension", maintaining a focus on broad understanding with a slightly different tone.

a comprehensive grasp of

Using "comprehensive grasp" emphasizes a thorough and complete understanding, suggesting a strong command of the subject.

a holistic perspective on

Shifting to "holistic perspective" highlights viewing something as a whole, rather than individual parts, implying a broad and integrated understanding.

a broad overview of

This alternative focuses on providing a summary or outline, suggesting a less detailed but still complete understanding of the main points.

a complete picture of

Using "complete picture" suggests having all the necessary information to fully understand something, emphasizing completeness.

a thorough knowledge of

Replacing "understanding" with "knowledge" puts more emphasis on the facts and information known about a subject.

a full appreciation of

This alternative highlights the ability to recognize and value the significance of something, implying a deeper level of understanding.

a global view of

Switching to "global view" indicates a wide-ranging perspective, encompassing all aspects of a situation or subject.

an integrated perception of

This alternative suggests combining different pieces of information into a coherent understanding, emphasizing integration.

an encompassing awareness of

Using "encompassing awareness" suggests a broad and inclusive understanding that covers all aspects of the subject, emphasizing inclusivity.

FAQs

How can I use "an overall understanding of" in a sentence?

You can use "an overall understanding of" to introduce a general summary or overview of a particular topic. For example, "An overall understanding of the region's history is essential for informed decision-making."

What phrases are similar to "an overall understanding of"?

Similar phrases include "a general comprehension of", "a comprehensive grasp of", or "a holistic perspective on".

Is it better to say "overall understanding" or "comprehensive understanding"?

"Overall understanding" implies a general view, while "comprehensive understanding" suggests a more detailed and thorough knowledge. The best choice depends on the specific context and the depth of understanding you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "an overall understanding of" and "an overall view of"?

"An overall understanding of" suggests a comprehension of the underlying principles and details, whereas "an overall view of" implies a more superficial or summarized perspective.