be better understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be better understood" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to express the idea that something is not currently well understood, but with more information or explanation, it could be better understood. Example: "The complex scientific concepts in this book may be difficult to grasp at first, but with multiple readings and further research, they can be better understood."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those reasons need to be better understood.

Harvard University

It is one that clearly needs to be better understood.

MIT Technology Review

The challenge of corruption needs to be better understood.

The New York Times

The failure mechanism of rockburst needs to be better understood.

Engineering Geology

The mechanisms of biochars formation have to be better understood in order to tailor their properties.

Carbon

He hoped that by telling his story he would be better understood – and safer.

The Guardian

By using numerical methods, the interaction between water mist and fire could be better understood.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

It [the hajj] is a phenomenon that needs to be better understood than it is.

The Guardian

Even disorders caused by unknown combinations of genes may soon be better understood.

The New York Times - Science

For that reason, some scientists believe mitochondria should be better understood before the procedures are legalised.

The Guardian

"I think the case for it needs to be better understood by the public at large.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and tailor your language to ensure the subject matter can "be better understood" by those with varying levels of expertise.

Common error

While "be better understood" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make writing seem weak or evasive. Consider whether an active voice construction (e.g. "we need to understand this better") might be more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be better understood" functions as a passive construction, typically used to indicate that a subject requires further explanation, research, or analysis to improve comprehension. Ludwig's examples show it is commonly used in academic, scientific, and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

37%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be better understood" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express the necessity for greater clarity or knowledge regarding a specific subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently employed across academic, scientific, and journalistic domains to highlight the need for improved comprehension. While direct and easily grasped, it's essential to avoid overusing passive voice and to ensure the phrase aligns with the intended nuance. Alternatives such as "be more fully comprehended" or "be more clearly explained" may provide a more precise fit depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be easier to grasp

Focuses on the ease with which something can be understood, suggesting current difficulty.

be more fully comprehended

Emphasizes completeness of understanding, suggesting a current lack of full comprehension.

be accurately interpreted

Focuses on the correctness of interpretation, implying a potential for misinterpretation.

be more clearly explained

Shifts focus to the quality of explanation rather than inherent understandability.

be properly contextualized

Emphasizes the importance of providing appropriate context for improved understanding.

be more deeply appreciated

Suggests a lack of proper valuation or recognition, implying understanding leads to appreciation.

be made more accessible

Highlights the need to simplify or adapt something to facilitate understanding.

be more thoroughly investigated

Highlights the need for further examination to achieve better understanding, emphasizing investigation.

be more widely recognized

Implies that the issue or concept needs greater acknowledgement or visibility, leading to understanding.

gain wider acceptance

Suggests that better understanding will lead to broader acceptance or approval.

FAQs

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

You can use "be better understood" to express that a topic requires more explanation or research to improve comprehension. For example, "The causes of climate change need to "be better understood" to develop effective solutions."

What are some alternatives to "be better understood"?

Alternatives include "be more fully comprehended", "be more clearly explained", or "be easier to grasp", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "be better understood"?

While "be better understood" is in the passive voice, it's often appropriate when the focus is on the topic needing understanding rather than the actor doing the understanding. However, consider if an active construction like "we need to understand X better" is more direct and impactful.

What does it mean when something needs to "be better understood"?

When something needs to "be better understood", it means that the current level of knowledge or awareness is insufficient, and further investigation, explanation, or analysis is required to achieve a more complete or accurate understanding.