be best understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'be best understood' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something can be comprehended in the most effective way. For example, "The implications of this policy should be best understood in the wider context of the global economy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This may be best understood with an example.

The New York Times - Travel

This chapter focuses on the individual crystals that can be best understood by thinking of the atoms as hard spheres.

Engineering Materials 1 An Introduction to Properties, Applications and Design

Terrorist organizations may be best understood as companies whose principal product is violence, suggests a new study of terror attacks.

MIT Technology Review

The kind of pressure Notre Dame quarterbacks are under can be best understood perhaps by Notre Dame football coaches.

The New York Times - Sports

IRES can thus be best understood in the context of metasystems, where local dynamics are influenced by regional processes.

Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams Ecology and Management

The brain, in its healthy or pathological state, can therefore be best understood by taking a systems-level approach.

Engineering

The fission process may be best understood through a consideration of the structure and stability of nuclear matter.

Britannica

The dispute between the Vatican and the Rev. Charles Curran may be best understood as a trademark controversy.

The New York Times

Our findings suggest that citywide robbery trends may be best understood by examining micro-level trends at a relatively small number of places in urban environments.

Harvard University

Lashing out against critics in situations where one is better off remaining silent can often be best understood as a failure of self-control.

Harvard Business Review

This phenomenon in deeply scaled devices can be best understood within the so-called defect-centric picture in terms of an ensemble of individual defects.

Solid-State Electronics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure that the subject is complex or multifaceted, requiring a particular approach for effective understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "be best understood" when a simpler phrase like "be understood" suffices. Overusing it in straightforward situations can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be best understood" functions as a passive construction indicating the optimal or most effective way to comprehend a subject. It suggests that a specific perspective, context, or method is essential for proper understanding. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its varied applications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be best understood" is a versatile construction indicating the optimal way to comprehend a topic, often implying a specific context or method is crucial. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across academic, scientific, and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the subject is complex and that a particular approach is necessary for effective understanding. While generally formal, avoid overuse in simple contexts to maintain clarity and conciseness. Consider alternatives like "be easily understood" or "be well understood" to vary your writing and tailor your message to the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be easily understood

Focuses on simplicity of understanding, shifting emphasis from the quality of understanding to the ease.

be well understood

Indicates a general state of comprehension without necessarily implying it's the best possible understanding.

be best grasped

Emphasizes the act of seizing or comprehending something, rather than a general state of understanding.

be better understood

Suggests an improvement in understanding compared to a previous state.

be best interpreted

Highlights the process of assigning meaning or significance, often implying a subjective element.

be best described

Shifts the focus from understanding to characterizing or portraying something accurately.

be best realized

Focuses on achieving a specific outcome or goal, with understanding being a component rather than the primary focus.

be best learned

Shifts emphasis to the acquisition of knowledge or skill, suggesting that understanding is a result of learning.

be best translated

Highlights adapting the understanding to new language.

be best identified

Emphasizes the ability to recognize or pinpoint something, which may or may not lead to full understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "be best understood" in a sentence?

Use "be best understood" to suggest the optimal way to comprehend a subject. For example, "The complexities of quantum physics can "be best understood" through advanced mathematical models".

What does it mean when something is said to "be best understood"?

It signifies that grasping the subject fully requires a specific framework, lens, or context. It implies that other methods of understanding may be inadequate or incomplete. Consider alternatives like "be easily understood" or "be well understood" for less emphatic statements.

Which is correct: "be best understood" or "is best to understand"?

"Be best understood" is a passive construction used to indicate how something should ideally be comprehended. "Is best to understand" is grammatically awkward and less common. A better alternative might be "it is best to understand", but it has a different meaning.

What are some alternatives to "be best understood" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "be better understood", "be easily understood", or "be well understood". The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize improvement, simplicity, or general comprehension.