broaden the understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"broaden the understanding" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to expand or increase one's knowledge or comprehension of something. You can use this phrase when discussing a subject or topic that requires more in-depth understanding or when talking about personal growth and development. For example: - The course aims to broaden students' understanding of global economics. - Traveling to different countries can greatly broaden one's understanding of different cultures. - Reading diverse literature can help broaden our understanding of the world. - In order to solve this complex issue, we need to broaden our understanding of the underlying causes. - Attending workshops and seminars on different topics can greatly broaden our understanding of various fields.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The strengths of a documentary analysis would be the following: on the one hand, documents can help the researcher to elicit nuanced meanings that he or she is trying to understand and, on the other, documents help broaden the understanding of the context surrounding the phenomenon under examination [ 96, 99].

BMC Medical Education

to integrate findings of individual studies in order to broaden the understanding of first-time mothers׳ experiences of early labour.

Midwifery

Computational methods can also broaden the understanding of the mechanisms behind the biological phenomena observed during experiments.

Journal of Biotechnology

Bringing capoeira and the story of Anastacia to the United States is just one way in which DanceBrazil is helping broaden the understanding of Brazilian culture.

The New York Times - Arts

By revealing neurological circuitry as the subjects perform normal tasks, researchers say, the technology could greatly broaden the understanding of learning, addiction, depression, and other conditions.

MIT Technology Review

Women's Health and Human Rights Initiative: Prof. McGovern works to broaden the understanding of the impact of fundamentalist violence and policies on women.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

If the tragedy on Everest has done one thing, it has broadened the understanding of who Sherpas are.

The Guardian

Educational institutions need to continue to work towards broadening the understanding of what it means to work for yourself, and make freelancing and self-employment visible.

The Guardian

With 13 oils and nearly two dozen watercolors, gouaches and pencil drawings, the show excitingly broadens the understanding of Avery's development.

The New York Times

The volume broadens the understanding of the Nordic model of a democratic developmental state and shows how it represents an additional, and perhaps contending understanding of the developmental state derived from the East Asian experience.

Columbia University

Murray also applied insights from the emergent science of anthropology to his other scholarly studies, thus broadening the understanding of Homer and of the older forms of Greek religion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "broaden the understanding", specify the subject or area to which the understanding is being broadened to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "broaden the understanding" without specifying what needs to be understood better. The phrase is more effective when paired with a clear object of understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broaden the understanding" functions as an infinitive phrase, often serving as part of a verb phrase to express purpose or intention. It indicates an action aimed at increasing or expanding comprehension, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

Academia

21%

News & Media

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "broaden the understanding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used infinitive phrase that signifies an effort to expand knowledge or comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent across various domains, particularly in science, academia, and news media. To use the phrase effectively, ensure you specify what subject or area requires a broadened understanding. While alternative phrases like "expand comprehension" or "deepen insight" exist, ""broaden the understanding"" is preferred when referring to a specific, identified understanding. Remember, clarity is key; avoid overgeneralization to make your writing more impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand comprehension

Replaces "understanding" with "comprehension", focusing on the mental process of grasping something.

deepen insight

Shifts the focus from general understanding to a more profound level of perception.

enhance awareness

Emphasizes becoming more conscious or informed about something.

increase knowledge

Focuses on accumulating more factual information.

develop a greater appreciation

Highlights the growth of positive regard and nuanced perception.

improve perception

Centers on refining the ability to interpret and understand sensory information or abstract concepts.

advance insight

Similar to "deepen insight", but suggests forward progress in understanding.

cultivate discernment

Highlights the development of refined judgment and understanding.

build acumen

Emphasizes the development of sharp, practical intelligence.

foster an enhanced grasp

Focuses on the development and improvement of understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "broaden the understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "broaden the understanding" to describe efforts to increase knowledge or comprehension. For example, "This course aims to "broaden the understanding" of climate change."

What are some alternatives to "broaden the understanding"?

Alternatives include "expand comprehension", "deepen insight", or "enhance awareness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "broaden understanding" or "broaden the understanding"?

While "broaden understanding" is sometimes used, ""broaden the understanding"" is generally preferred as it specifies a particular understanding that needs expansion.

What's the difference between "increase knowledge" and "broaden the understanding"?

"Increase knowledge" focuses on accumulating more information, while ""broaden the understanding"" emphasizes developing a more comprehensive and nuanced grasp of a subject.