can help understand

USAGE SUMMARY

"can help understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to the explanation of something. For example, "The diagrams can help understand the concept better."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A better understanding of the dynamic assembly and environmental response of lipid membranes can help understand these processes and design novel nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes

Part of that is appealing both emotionally — animal abuse is inhumane — and pragmatically — it can help understand other crimes.

Independent

But a cross-reference to the results in Figure 5 can help understand this phenomenon.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

They can help understand the importance people place on these therapies.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

Modelling approaches can help understand the behaviour of spray drift using computer simulations.

Biosystems Engineering

It can help understand why a police officer may have shot 16 times at a youth who was running away.

Health & Justice

Relief characteristics can help understand landforms of a watershed, drainage networks development, overland flow, and erosional properties of terrain.

Applied Water Science

By incorporating resources, 4D BIM simulations turn into 5D BIM simulations, which can help understand resource utilization over time.

Visualization in Engineering

Process-based numerical models in environmental science can help understand and quantify terrestrial material cycles in nature.

Environmental Modelling & Software

Envisioning and analyzing scenarios of human activity can help understand and create appropriate artifacts to support human activity.

Design Knowing and Learning: Cognition in Design Education

Electrophysiological measures can help understand brain function both in healthy individuals and in the context of a disease.

Brain Stimulation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can help understand" when explaining the benefit of a method, tool, or piece of information in making a subject easier to grasp.

Common error

Avoid stringing multiple clauses with "can help understand". Break down complex sentences for better readability and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can help understand" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating the potential or ability of something to facilitate comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

18%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can help understand" is a common and grammatically sound way to express how something facilitates comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, remember to maintain clarity and avoid overly complex sentence structures. While there are alternatives like "may facilitate understanding" or "could clarify meaning", "can help understand" remains a straightforward and effective choice for conveying the idea of assisting in comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may facilitate understanding

Emphasizes possibility rather than direct assistance in understanding.

might aid comprehension

Indicates a potential but not guaranteed contribution to comprehension.

could clarify meaning

Focuses on the act of making something clearer or easier to understand.

can assist in grasping

Highlights the process of seizing or capturing understanding.

can contribute to knowledge

Focuses on adding to one's overall base of knowledge.

may shed light on

Suggests revealing or illuminating aspects that were previously unclear.

might promote insight

Indicates the potential to foster a deeper level of understanding.

can enable recognition

Highlights the ability to identify or acknowledge something.

can foster awareness

Focuses on creating a state of consciousness or knowledge.

may build appreciation

Suggests developing a deeper understanding or enjoyment of something.

FAQs

How do I use "can help understand" in a sentence?

Use "can help understand" to describe how something clarifies or simplifies a concept. For example, "Visual aids "can help understand" complex data".

What are some alternatives to "can help understand"?

You can use phrases like "may facilitate understanding", "might aid comprehension", or "could clarify meaning" as alternatives.

Is it correct to say "can help understanding" instead of "can help understand"?

No, the correct form is "can help understand". The word "help" is followed by the base form of the verb, not the gerund.

In what contexts is "can help understand" most appropriate?

This phrase is appropriate in academic, scientific, and general contexts where the goal is to explain how something contributes to comprehension. For example, "This research "can help understand" the causes of climate change".