broadly understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broadly understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something with a wide scope or general meaning. For example: The term "democracy" is broadly understood as a system of government in which political power is vested in the people.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At M.I.T., hacking, broadly understood, was a tradition.

The New Yorker

The alternative to carnal passion, broadly understood, is a passion for money.

The New York Times - Books

Afghanistan has long been a land of invisible but broadly understood boundaries.

The New York Times

League One and League Two clubs are broadly understood to be happy with the contract.

The Guardian - Sport

In popular commentary, these distinctions are all broadly understood as targeting Syrian refugees.

The Washington Post

But consistent, broadly understood values also define what an organization cannot do.

Harvard Business Review

Avoid technical terms and use broadly understood language and concepts, in most cases.

Cornell University

Ernesto Dal Bó is a political economist interested in governance broadly understood.

University of California, Berkeley

He studies the role that politics broadly understood plays in these dynamics.

Stanford University

The effects of the major operating variables and many of the metallurgical variables are broadly understood.

Journal of Nuclear Materials

The "Open Mind" archive will endure as a resource for intellectual history and the history of manners, broadly understood.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "broadly understood" to indicate a general consensus or common interpretation of a concept, avoiding overly specific or technical language.

Common error

Avoid using "broadly understood" when referring to complex topics that require specialized knowledge, as it may suggest a level of public understanding that doesn't exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broadly understood" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the extent to which something is comprehended. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig show its use in contexts ranging from technology to politics, indicating general, if not complete, comprehension.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "broadly understood" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates a general level of comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Its versatility allows it to span different domains, from news and media to academia and science. While alternatives like "generally accepted" or "commonly known" exist, "broadly understood" specifically emphasizes the extent of understanding rather than agreement or recognition. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the audience's comprehension level and avoids overstating their knowledge on complex topics. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Generally accepted

Focuses on the acceptance of an idea rather than the level of understanding.

Commonly known

Highlights the knowledge of something by a large number of people.

Widely recognized

Emphasizes the recognition of something by many people, not necessarily full comprehension.

Largely conceived

Suggests a widespread way of thinking or imagining something.

Mostly agreed upon

Indicates agreement more than comprehension.

Universally acknowledged

Focuses on the acknowledgment of something by everyone.

Fairly appreciated

Shifts the focus to the level of appreciation rather than understanding.

Implicitly grasped

Emphasizes the intuitive understanding of something without explicit explanation.

Publicly perceived

Highlights public view rather than actual understanding.

Vaguely comprehended

Indicates an understanding that is not clear or precise.

FAQs

How can I use "broadly understood" in a sentence?

You can use "broadly understood" to describe concepts or ideas that are generally accepted or comprehended by a wide audience. For instance, "The concept of supply and demand is "broadly understood" in economics."

What are some alternatives to "broadly understood"?

Alternatives to "broadly understood" include "generally accepted", "widely recognized", or "commonly known". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "mostly understood" instead of "broadly understood"?

While "mostly understood" is grammatically correct, it implies a higher degree of comprehension than "broadly understood". "Broadly understood" suggests a general understanding, whereas "mostly understood" suggests near-complete comprehension.

What's the difference between "broadly understood" and "widely accepted"?

"Broadly understood" refers to the level of comprehension, while "widely accepted" refers to the degree of agreement or endorsement. Something can be "broadly understood" without being "widely accepted", and vice versa.