be to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be to understand" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect construction and should be revised for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Example: "To truly learn, one must be willing to understand the complexities of the subject."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Your goal should be to understand.

The New York Times

The first step will be to understand universal credit.

The Guardian

Ultimately, the best policy may be to understand and embrace your chronotype.

The New Yorker

But the better approach would be to understand the problems and begin to develop solutions.

The New York Times

Your primary aim should be to understand your partner and to be understood in return.

Independent

To me, Harbison's books, difficult as they may sometimes be to understand, consistently provide brief, fragmentary glimmers of hope.

The New Yorker

Its first task would be to understand the needs of each of the existing 156 nagars (neighbourhoods), before developing accordingly.

The Guardian

Where Google's mission is to organise the world's information, ours, in a smaller way, would be to understand it.

The Guardian

I am not from Yonkers, but I don't have to be to understand the impact of segregation on children.

The New York Times

But the most difficult labor will be to understand the combination of the two into new products at every stage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To understand how and when our genes malfunction, then, would be to understand how to prevent, treat, and cure everything from cancer to the common cold.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace the construction "be to understand" with more direct alternatives like "to understand", "must understand", or "should understand".

Common error

Avoid using "be to understand" when a simpler infinitive form such as "to understand" would be clearer and more grammatically sound. This substitution enhances readability and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be to understand" serves as part of an infinitive construction, typically aiming to express a necessity, obligation, or future action focused on comprehension. Ludwig AI's assessment, however, indicates grammatical issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be to understand" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect or awkward. Though common in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts, clearer alternatives like "to understand", "should understand", or "must understand" are advisable. It is essential to opt for grammatically precise and readable phrasing, especially in formal or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to comprehend

Offers a more concise and direct synonym for understanding.

to grasp the meaning

Emphasizes the act of seizing or capturing the essence of something.

to make sense of

Highlights the process of creating coherence or intelligibility.

to gain understanding

Focuses on the process of achieving comprehension rather than a state.

to figure out

Implies a problem-solving approach to understanding.

to have insight into

Focuses on possessing a clear and intuitive understanding.

to get to the bottom of

Suggests uncovering the underlying truth or cause of something.

to realize

Highlights the moment of sudden comprehension or insight.

to become aware of

Emphasizes the development of consciousness or knowledge.

to appreciate

Suggests a deeper, more nuanced understanding combined with value.

FAQs

How can I rewrite a sentence that uses "be to understand"?

Replace "be to understand" with alternatives like "to comprehend", "to grasp", or simply "to understand" for improved clarity.

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "be to understand"?

Opt for "should understand", "must understand", or "need to understand" to ensure grammatical correctness and precision.

Is "be to understand" grammatically correct?

No, "be to understand" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It often represents an incomplete or awkward phrasing. Rephrasing to achieve clarity is recommended.

When is it appropriate to use "be to understand"?

It's rarely appropriate. Consider using more direct alternatives like "to understand", "must comprehend", or "should grasp" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.