build up understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "build up understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to gradually gaining a better understanding of something such as a concept, skill, or situation. For example, "By talking with teachers, I was able to build up understanding of the new curriculum."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even so, the Evaluation Team believes that, given the multi-sector approach and complexity of the PCFP, this was a realistic time-frame that was necessary to build up understanding and consensus amongst the province authorities and implementing agencies.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In this role he built up an understanding with the eastern townships and the English-speaking minority of Canada East.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The strategy should define a programme for communications that gradually builds up staff understanding of their IT security responsibilities, their role in safeguarding the organisation's information assets and why this is important.

The Guardian

Before that, Amazon acted as a sales channel for SquareTrade and built up an understanding of the warranty business before diving in deeper.

TechCrunch

Through studying the structure function relationships of these enzymes, researchers built up an understanding of their allosteric regulation.

Biochemistry

Having (often painstakingly) built up an understanding of the complexities, the identification of meaningful interventions will invariably necessitate a step back towards simplification – de-complexifying the complexities to sort out critical factors and critical interactions between them.

Globalization and Health

Our unique geographical position and programme – we specialise in using non-standard concert settings and stage performances in civic institutions, buildings and non-traditional venues across London E1 – has allowed us to build up an understanding of patterns of engagement in our local community.

The Guardian

From this they can start to build up an understanding of human values.

The Guardian - Tech

We must build up an understanding of what works and what does not, and this can feed in to future products, policies and best practice.

The Guardian

Rhiannon especially liked the opportunity to browse through the college's library to build up her understanding of the subject she plans to study.

Independent

Instead, DeepPeep starts by posing a small number of sample queries, "so we can then use that to build up our understanding of the databases and choose which words to search".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "build up understanding", consider the context and specify what type of understanding is being developed (e.g., "build up understanding of market trends" or "build up understanding of quantum physics").

Common error

Avoid using "build up understanding" in vague contexts without specifying what understanding is being developed. Ensure the sentence clarifies the subject matter to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build up understanding" functions primarily as a verb phrase describing the process of gradually increasing one's knowledge or comprehension. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "build up understanding" is a versatile and correct way to describe the gradual development of knowledge or comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. It's commonly found in various contexts, including news, science, and business, highlighting its broad applicability. To use it effectively, specify what understanding is being developed to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "develop an understanding" or "foster understanding", which offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis. Overall, "build up understanding" is a reliable and practical phrase for describing the process of learning and knowledge acquisition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop an understanding

Focuses on the process of development rather than accumulation.

foster understanding

Emphasizes nurturing and encouraging understanding.

cultivate understanding

Implies careful and deliberate development of understanding.

gain insight

Highlights the acquisition of a deeper, more profound understanding.

enhance comprehension

Focuses on improving the ability to understand something.

deepen knowledge

Stresses increasing one's knowledge in a particular area.

improve awareness

Highlights enhancing consciousness and understanding of a subject.

advance expertise

Focuses on the progression of skill and knowledge in a particular field.

acquire proficiency

Emphasizes gaining competence and skill through practice and study.

formulate an understanding

Highlights the creation of a structured understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "build up understanding" to describe a gradual process of learning. For example, "Through consistent study, students can build up understanding of complex mathematical concepts."

What are some alternatives to "build up understanding"?

Alternatives include "develop an understanding", "foster understanding", or "cultivate understanding". Each carries a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to say "build understanding" or "build up understanding"?

"Build up understanding" implies a gradual accumulation of knowledge, while "build understanding" is also correct, the first highlights a process of accretion over time.

How does "build up understanding" differ from "gain understanding"?

"Build up understanding" suggests a progressive development, whereas "gain understanding" implies acquiring understanding at a specific point or through a specific event.