as previously understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as previously understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer back to a prior agreement, interpretation, or understanding that has been established earlier in a conversation or document. Example: "The terms of the contract will remain in effect as previously understood by both parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The Severn Project has annual revenues of £115,000, not £350,000 as previously understood.

The Guardian

Histoire repudiates both orchestra and opera as previously understood: it is specifically (and inexpensively) designed for performance on a portable stage by three dancers, a narrator, and seven instrumentalists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To summarize: Bobbitt believes that there is a real war against terror; that civil liberties as previously understood may need to be curtailed to win it; that we must nevertheless fight it without violating our commitment to the rule of law; and that the United States cannot win it alone.

The New York Times - Books

Together, these processes shifted the female domestic and male public spheres as previously understood.

Pastoralism

If the Bible is wrong about our origins, for example, then it cannot be the word of God as previously understood and, therefore, may be wrong about everything else, becoming merely a collection of myths and fables without authority on spiritual matters.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

We found that police shoot twice as many people as previously understood, but in some departments shootings are on the decline in recent years.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Explaining that officials had not, as also previously understood, seized the suspect's passport, Mr Paulson said that Zehaf-Bibeau had in fact recently applied for one.

Independent

"We have to try to understand humans as a driver of geology, just as we've previously understood massive volcanic outbursts and meteorite impacts," he told me.

The New Yorker

Zero-dimensional points; one-dimensional lines; two-dimensional planes, like squares; and three-dimensional solids, such as cubes, make up the world as we have previously understood it, but many natural phenomena like a length of coast line and the shape of clouds are better described with a dimension partway between two whole numbers.

Handbook of Geophysical Exploration: Seismic Exploration

But these are phones created in a very different context to Android devices as we've previously understood them.

TechCrunch

Supported by "stunning visual forensic evidence", it claims that the handwriting in some of the original Bach manuscripts was not that of a mere transcriber or copyist, as we had previously understood Anna Magdalena to be, but bears the hallmarks of a mind in the act of creation.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as previously understood" to clarify when a current interpretation differs from a past one. This is especially useful in academic or technical writing where evolving understandings are common.

Common error

Avoid using "as previously understood" if there's a chance your audience isn't familiar with the prior understanding. Provide context or a brief explanation to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as previously understood" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the manner in which something was comprehended in the past. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in contrasting past and present understandings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as previously understood" is a useful adverbial modifier for referencing past interpretations and highlighting shifts in understanding. Ludwig AI considers the phrase grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most common in scientific and news contexts, indicating a formal to neutral register. When using the phrase, ensure that the prior understanding is either well-known or briefly explained for clarity. Alternatives include "as formerly understood" and "as earlier understood".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as formerly understood

Replaces "previously" with "formerly", indicating a past understanding.

as earlier understood

Substitutes "previously" with "earlier", specifying that understanding was held at an earlier time.

as was once understood

Uses a different grammatical structure to convey the same meaning.

as it was understood before

Adds more explicit wording to indicate a shift in understanding over time.

according to prior understanding

Changes the phrase to a prepositional phrase modifying a noun.

in line with past understanding

Implies something aligns with a former understanding.

based on previous knowledge

Shifts the focus to "knowledge" rather than "understanding".

as conventionally understood

Replaces 'previously' with 'conventionally', implying widespread agreement at one time.

what was previously believed

Emphasizes the element of belief or acceptance.

what we used to understand

Uses a more personal and conversational tone.

FAQs

How can I use "as previously understood" in a sentence?

You can use "as previously understood" to indicate a contrast between a past understanding and a current one. For example, "The data was interpreted differently than "as previously understood", leading to new conclusions."

What phrases are similar to "as previously understood"?

Similar phrases include "as formerly understood", "as earlier understood", and "what was once understood".

Is it always necessary to explicitly state what was "previously understood"?

While not always required, providing context for what was "previously understood" can improve clarity, especially if the prior understanding is not widely known.

In what contexts is "as previously understood" most appropriate?

"As previously understood" is suitable in contexts where knowledge evolves, such as academic research, legal interpretations, or technical specifications. It helps highlight how current perspectives differ from past ones.