check understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to check that someone has understood something you have said or written. For example, "I explained the process for creating a budget. Check understanding: Can you explain it back to me?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Caroline Elliott of Lancaster University recently won the first Learning and Teaching Support Network award for outstanding teaching in economics, and used PRS for the first time last year primarily to check understanding.

The Guardian

In regard to communication style, physicians are advised to provide clear explanations, avoid jargon, and continually check understanding.

BMC Palliative Care

The interviewers noted any items about which the subjects asked for clarification and they discussed problematic items with the women in order to check understanding.

BMC Psychiatry

Write every promise down and check understanding.

WikiHow

The resource could be used as a plenary to check understanding following a lesson about nets.

The Guardian

Dealing with ambiguity: Successful counselors clarify situations by writing more, reflecting back to check understanding, and making their conversation partner feel more comfortable through affirmation.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

HPs need to repeatedly check patients' understanding and preferences for information.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Classmates and the professor can then ask follow up questions to check for understanding.

Yale University

As business leaders, it is essential to check for understanding.

Forbes

Check out: Understanding Grief and Mourning The Loss of Your Work Life.

Forbes

Be prepared with some follow up questions for your audience to check for understanding.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting complex information, use questions or short quizzes to "check understanding" at regular intervals. This reinforces learning and identifies areas needing clarification.

Common error

Don't assume your audience understands simply because they nod or don't ask questions. Proactively "check understanding" by asking open-ended questions or requesting summaries.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "check understanding" functions as a directive, prompting an action to verify comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It emphasizes the need to confirm that information has been properly received and processed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "check understanding" is a common phrase used to verify comprehension in various settings. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Predominantly found in science, news, and academic contexts, it serves to ensure clarity and prevent misinterpretations. To enhance communication, consider using alternative phrases such as "confirm comprehension" or "assess comprehension". Always actively solicit feedback to avoid assumptions of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confirm understanding

Substitutes "check" with "confirm", conveying a similar meaning.

confirm comprehension

Replaces "check" with a more formal synonym and "understanding" with a more technical term.

verify comprehension

Similar to "confirm comprehension" but uses "verify" instead of "confirm".

assess comprehension

Focuses on evaluating the level of understanding, using "assess" to indicate evaluation.

gauge understanding

Emphasizes measuring or estimating the level of understanding, replacing "check" with "gauge".

validate understanding

Replaces "check" with "validate", focusing on confirming the accuracy of understanding.

ensure comprehension

Shifts the focus to guaranteeing that understanding exists, using "ensure" instead of "check".

validate understanding

Similar to "confirm comprehension" but uses "validate" which suggests to establish the correctness of the person's level of understanding.

ascertain comprehension

A more formal alternative, where "ascertain" means to find (something) out for certain; make sure of.

ascertain understanding

A more formal way of saying "check understanding", using "ascertain" to emphasize the process of finding something out for certain.

FAQs

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

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

What are some alternatives to the phrase "check understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "confirm comprehension", "assess comprehension", or "verify understanding" depending on the context.

Why is it important to "check understanding" in communication?

It is crucial to "check understanding" to ensure everyone is on the same page, prevent misunderstandings, and foster effective collaboration.

Is there a difference between "check comprehension" and "check understanding"?

The phrases "check comprehension" and "check understanding" are often used interchangeably, although "check comprehension" might be preferred in more formal or academic contexts.