check their understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

'check their understanding' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when you want to make sure that the people you are communicating with have understood something that has been said or explained. For example, "Before moving onto the next topic, let's check their understanding of the last point."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

When students finish, check their understanding of the concepts ("age of American hegemony," "Pax Americana," and others), and then draw a circle on the board and record students' ideas concerning the scope of American power inside and outside of it.

The New York Times

Second, asking students "to explain their answers to their group" provides "additional opportunities for students to check their understanding".

International Journal of STEM Education

It helped the students discuss course-related problems and provided a way for students to check their understanding and learning against that of their peers.

International Journal of STEM Education

One of the first systems of this type, AUTOQUEST (Wolfe 1976), helped students check their understanding of readings by generating questions on each sentence.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

By providing opportunities for students to check their understanding and reflect on their learning process performance is enhanced over a traditional lecture course.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

By attempting these tests, learners can check their understanding of the concepts of the unit since they receive immediate feedback on whether their answers were correct or not.   5.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Interviews with men checked their understanding of questions, the clarity of questions, and content suitability for the selected measures of behavioural outcomes and mediators of those outcomes.

BMJ Open

If women reported that they smoked, nurses checked their understanding of the information sheet, provided clarifications where necessary and then invited them into the study.

British Journal of Cancer

However, the importance of stimulating self-assessment, making the resident active in the solving the problem, limiting the number of items addressed and checking their understanding were often addressed.

BMC Medical Education

The study was approved by the University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board and all participants provided written informed consent after a research assistant explained the study to potential participants and checked their understanding of participation using the approach described by Karlawish and Casarett [ 22].

BMC Geriatrics

For those students who did not actively participate in the online discussion forum, they also benefited from having a place to review relevant discussions on course content and check their own understanding via self-reflection.

International Journal of STEM Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting complex information, use interactive quizzes or short summaries followed by questions to "check their understanding" at regular intervals. This proactive approach helps identify and address confusion early on.

Common error

Avoid assuming your audience understands simply because you've explained something clearly (in your opinion). Always "check their understanding" through questions or feedback mechanisms to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "check their understanding" functions as a directive, urging the speaker or writer to verify that the audience or recipient has properly grasped the information being conveyed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. Examples show it used in various contexts to ensure clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

21%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "check their understanding" is a versatile and grammatically sound directive used to ensure effective communication across diverse contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. Predominantly found in scientific and news media sources, the phrase serves the crucial purpose of verifying comprehension and identifying potential knowledge gaps. To enhance clarity, consider using interactive methods and open-ended questions. Avoiding assumptions about comprehension is key. Alternatives such as "assess their comprehension" or "evaluate their knowledge" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confirm their comprehension

Similar to 'check their understanding' but emphasizes confirmation.

assess their comprehension

Replaces "understanding" with "comprehension", implying a more formal evaluation.

validate their understanding

Focuses on confirming the accuracy and correctness of their understanding.

gauge their understanding

Implies a more approximate or estimated measurement of understanding.

ensure their understanding

Shifts the focus to actively making sure they understand, rather than just checking.

evaluate their knowledge

Shifts the focus to evaluating the breadth and depth of their knowledge on a subject.

determine their comprehension

Indicates a more thorough and decisive assessment of their understanding.

verify their grasp of

Emphasizes confirming they have a firm hold or control of the information.

monitor their comprehension

Suggests an ongoing process of observing and evaluating their comprehension.

ascertain their level of understanding

More formal, indicating a need to determine their specific level of comprehension.

FAQs

How can I "check their understanding" effectively in a presentation?

In a presentation, you can "check their understanding" by asking open-ended questions, summarizing key points and asking for confirmation, or using interactive polls to gauge comprehension. Encourage questions and provide clarifications promptly.

What are some alternatives to "check their understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "assess their comprehension", "evaluate their knowledge", or "verify their grasp of" depending on the specific context and formality required.

Is it better to "check their understanding" or assume they comprehend the material?

It is always better to "check their understanding" rather than assume comprehension. Assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and gaps in knowledge, while proactive checking ensures everyone is on the same page.

What's the difference between "check their understanding" and "test their knowledge"?

"Check their understanding" implies a less formal, ongoing assessment of comprehension during a learning process, whereas "test their knowledge" suggests a more formal, summative evaluation after a period of learning.