closely understand

USAGE SUMMARY

'closely understand' is not a correct phrase in written English.
The correct phrase is 'closely understand'. For example, "I need to closely understand the material before I can answer the question."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To more closely understand how Dell EMC pulled it off, it's useful to look at the six major lessons the company reports to have learned from this merger process.

Forbes

"Our relationship with Metromile gives us the opportunity to more closely understand the pay-as-you-drive model, allowing us to create more innovative products and a better service experience for the younger and digitalized generation of the future".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, students who have closely understood the opportunities and constraints faced by Zoom Rail as it tries to strike the best balance are more likely to opt for the preferred route".

The Guardian

So carefully computer-analysed and closely understood are the actions of modern fast bowlers that there should be an easy technical explanation for it, yet these tornados from Broad blow in like some unquantifiable force of nature.

BBC

Anyone who follows government closely understands how really few perks there are to being mayor of the District of Columbia.

Huffington Post

It is important to match the plant performance closely to understand unit constraints and exploit the new catalyst capabilities to full extent.

Catalysis Today

It is necessary to read closely, to understand what this woman is saying underneath what she appears to be saying: what she wants and needs to say, what she cannot say, and why she so often chooses to say something else entirely.

The New Yorker

Like most observers of this charitable news, I'll be watching the developments of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative closely to understand the exciting ramifications of their philanthropic pioneerism.

Forbes

Prince plans to keep the app available for the next month or so until the threat of SOPA has passed, he tells me, "I'm a recovering lawyer and still teach Internet & Technology law, so this is a subject I've been following closely and understand the real risks of.

TechCrunch

"When you think about making a portrait of yourself, not just picking up your mobile phone and snapping a photo, but how you work paint and create texture," she explains, "you have to look very closely and understand all the lumps, bumps, wrinkles and saggy bits on your face.

BBC

(Full disclosure: I represent the plaintiffs in Renee; only a policy wonk following this stuff closely would understand the import of the 7 lines on page 1068).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider replacing "closely understand" with more accepted phrases like "deeply understand" or "thoroughly understand" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "closely understand" in formal writing. While understandable, it's less conventional than alternatives and might detract from your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely understand" functions as an adverb-verb combination, attempting to modify the verb "understand" with the adverb "closely". However, it is considered grammatically questionable as per Ludwig AI. The intended purpose is to emphasize a detailed or in-depth comprehension.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "closely understand" is understandable, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its usage is rare and primarily found in news, media, scientific, and academic contexts. For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using alternatives such as "deeply understand" or "thoroughly understand", especially in formal writing. The intended meaning revolves around emphasizing a detailed and in-depth comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply understand

Emphasizes the depth of comprehension.

thoroughly understand

Highlights the completeness of understanding.

comprehend fully

Uses a different verb to convey complete understanding.

grasp completely

Replaces "understand" with "grasp" to emphasize comprehension.

appreciate fully

Suggests a deeper, more nuanced understanding, especially in subjective contexts.

fully appreciate

Emphasizes the extent of appreciation and understanding.

closely examine to understand

Highlights the process of examination that leads to understanding.

scrutinize to understand

Implies a critical and detailed examination to gain understanding.

carefully analyze to understand

Focuses on the analytical aspect of achieving understanding.

minutely study to understand

Emphasizes the detailed and meticulous nature of the study.

FAQs

Is "closely understand" grammatically correct?

While the meaning is clear, "closely understand" is not considered standard English. Alternatives like "deeply understand" or "thoroughly understand" are more common and grammatically accepted.

What's a more formal way to say "closely understand"?

For formal contexts, consider phrases such as "comprehend fully" or "appreciate fully". These convey a sense of thorough and nuanced understanding.

How can I use "closely understand" in a sentence?

Although not standard, you might see it in informal contexts. However, it's generally better to rephrase using alternatives like "I need to "thoroughly understand" this concept" instead of "I need to closely understand this concept".

Which is correct, "closely understand" or "closely examine to understand"?

"Closely examine to understand" is more grammatically sound. It emphasizes the process of close examination leading to understanding, whereas "closely understand" is not a conventional phrase.