build an understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"build an understanding" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to express the idea of increasing or creating knowledge on a subject. For example: "We need to build an understanding of how our customers use our products."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

An important process is to build an understanding of how the CMOCs we have constructed fit in with our initial programme theory.

BMJ Open

From physical journeys, we build an understanding of relationships.

The New York Times

Help students explore and build an understanding of what it means to be a humanitarian.

The Guardian

I'm looking to build an understanding with the players and getting to know them better.

Independent

Her goal is to build an understanding of viral infection from a proteomics perspective.

Princeton University

We should start to build an understanding of how these animals played a role in the ecology of ancient Australia.

The Guardian

"I think what it comes down to is that if you hit them on all cylinders, you build an understanding with your audience," Mr. Ross said.

The New York Times

"We tried to build an understanding of what's happening in individual sectors and where opportunity may be growing," Mr. Chester said.

The New York Times

In addition, it proved to be critical to build an understanding of the translation between recombinant cell-based systems, native tissue preparations and in vivo preclinical models.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

These technologies not only help discover the systems on the network, but also build an understanding of the way the network operates and is used.

Special Ops Host and Network Security for Microsoft, UNIX, and Oracle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

For teacher Suzanne Cohen, film is a powerful tool to build an understanding of the world.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to communicate the process of learning or familiarizing oneself with a topic, use "build an understanding" to convey gradual progress.

Common error

While versatile, "build an understanding" might sound less sophisticated in highly formal documents. Consider using alternatives like "develop insight" or "acquire knowledge" for a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build an understanding" functions as a verb phrase typically used to describe the process of acquiring knowledge or comprehension. It highlights the development of insight over time. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "build an understanding" is a versatile and common way to express the process of gaining knowledge or comprehension, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its frequent use in news, science, and academic contexts showcases its broad applicability. While grammatically sound, considering the formality of the context and exploring alternatives such as "develop an understanding" or "cultivate an understanding" can enhance the sophistication of your writing. As such, using "build an understanding" is a proper option and can improve your writing and communication skills by expressing gradual progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Develop an understanding

Emphasizes a gradual process of growth and refinement in comprehension.

Comprehend the matter

More formal and emphasizes a complete and thorough understanding.

Cultivate an understanding

Suggests a more deliberate and nurturing approach to gaining comprehension.

Attain comprehension

Focuses on successfully reaching a state of understanding.

Foster an understanding

Implies creating an environment that encourages comprehension.

Gain insight

Highlights achieving a sudden or intuitive comprehension of something.

Grasp the concept

Emphasizes understanding a specific idea or principle.

Acquire knowledge

Focuses on obtaining factual information rather than the deeper process of understanding.

Establish a grasp

Highlights the act of firmly securing a concept in one's mind.

Formulate an opinion

Focuses on developing a judgment, which is related to understanding but not identical.

FAQs

How can I use "build an understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "build an understanding" to describe the process of gradually gaining knowledge or comprehension. For example, "The course is designed to help students "build an understanding" of quantum physics".

What can I say instead of "build an understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "develop an understanding", "cultivate an understanding", or "foster an understanding" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "build an understanding about" instead of "build an understanding of"?

While "build an understanding about" might be understandable, "build an understanding of" is the more common and grammatically preferred construction.

What's the difference between "build an understanding" and "gain an understanding"?

"Build an understanding" implies a gradual, step-by-step process, while "gain an understanding" suggests a more immediate or sudden acquisition of knowledge.