could be comprehended

USAGE SUMMARY

"could be comprehended" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when a person or thing needs to understand an idea or concept. For example, "The instructions were not clear, but with some thought they could be comprehended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But to a people steeped in the martial and civic traditions of the Greek revival, heroic death on the battlefield was something that could be comprehended and admired".

The New Yorker

To him, the spirit that underlies all things could be comprehended if one understood the division of the different elements into numbers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rigorous, "objective" methodology was attempted so that the behaviour of all organisms could be comprehended under a unified system of laws modeled on those posited in the physical sciences.

Britannica

Each had the same feeling that unimaginable events were unfolding faster than they could be comprehended, and the same sense that the world had changed in an eye blink.

The New York Times - Arts

With each step upward came a more expansive view, mirroring the expansion of the urban area below almost as if the city, as it projected outward, called for ever-higher vantage points from which its growing scale and ambition could be comprehended.

The New Yorker

In losing their mimetic character, the details of the Greek orders acquired a new function; they served to articulate or unify the building visually, organizing it into a series of coordinated visual units that could be comprehended as an integrated whole, rather than as a collection of isolated units.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

These exotic celestial objects, with their intense gravitational fields, could not be comprehended without the use of Einstein's theory.

The New York Times - Books

This simplified approach provides a fast track to seismic performance for both existing and new buildings, which could easily be comprehended by engineers without prior knowledge of seismic design.

Engineering Structures

the highest and most wonderful truths, though communicated to the world once for all by inspired teachers could not be comprehended all at once by the recipients, but,…have required only the longer time and deeper thought for their full elucidation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thus, the 19th-century Roman Catholic cardinal John Henry Newman, in his Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845), argued that the highest and most wonderful truths, though communicated to the world once for all by inspired teachers could not be comprehended all at once by the recipients, but,…have required only the longer time and deeper thought for their full elucidation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The interpersonal aspect of care like respect, dignity and privacy during delivery and better sharing of information could not be comprehended as challenges by providers and they did not consider them as key aspects of care which needed immediate attention at the facility.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be comprehended" to indicate that something has the potential to be understood, often with effort or under certain conditions. Ensure the context provides necessary information for comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "could be comprehended" when a simpler term like "understood" or "clear" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be comprehended" functions as a passive construction, indicating the potential for something to be understood. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability, as seen in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be comprehended" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey the potential for understanding something, often with an implication of effort or specific conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias. While "could be comprehended" can be used in many situations, simpler alternatives like "can be understood" are often more appropriate in informal settings. It's crucial to consider the level of formality required for your audience when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be understood

Uses "can" instead of "could", implying a general possibility rather than a conditional one.

is capable of being understood

Adds emphasis on the capacity or potential for understanding.

is able to be grasped

Emphasizes the ability to mentally seize or understand something.

is potentially understandable

Highlights the potential for something to be understood, though it may not be currently.

might be grasped

Similar to "could be grasped" but indicating even lower probability.

may be apprehended

Uses a more formal and less common synonym for understand, suggesting a deeper level of understanding.

is within the realm of understanding

Emphasizes that something is conceptually accessible or understandable.

can be deciphered

Implies that something requires effort to understand, like a code.

is open to interpretation

Suggests that something is not definitively understood and allows for multiple understandings.

is knowable

Focuses on whether something can be known or understood at all.

FAQs

How can I use "could be comprehended" in a sentence?

Use "could be comprehended" to express the potential for something to be understood. For example, "The complex theory "can be understood" if explained with simpler terms."

What's the difference between "could be comprehended" and "could be understood"?

"Could be comprehended" often implies a deeper level of understanding or effort required, while "could be understood" is more general. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What are some alternatives to "could be comprehended"?

Alternatives include "can be grasped", "is able to be grasped", or "can be deciphered", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "could be comprehended" formal or informal?

"Could be comprehended" leans towards the formal side. In informal settings, phrases like ""can be understood"" or simply "makes sense" might be more appropriate.