develop a foundational understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "develop a foundational understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of gaining basic knowledge or comprehension of a subject or concept. Example: "In this course, we aim to develop a foundational understanding of the principles of economics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A functional decomposition of battery packs is used to develop a foundational understanding of how changes in customer requirements can result in physical product changes.

Procedia CIRP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We addressed these questions by developing a set of cases for teaching evolution, designed so that students can be introduced to a foundational understanding of evolutionary processes on a molecular level in terms of genes, proteins and cell function.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

These results provide a foundational understanding of the microbial structure and reaction kinetics in such systems.

Bioresource Technology

Thus snow leopard research and monitoring efforts are well served by a foundational understanding of the benefits, limitations, and future directions of study design and camera trap technology.

Snow Leopards Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes

The CSSW curriculum combines a foundational understanding of social work practice with a specialized focus in a student's concentration.

Columbia University

This article aims to provide a broad overview of the many facets of SB and to provide the reader with a foundational understanding of the technology.

Comprehensive Biotechnology

You can gain a foundational understanding of machine learning models in the new Introduction to Machine Learning Duke Coursera course.

Duke University

We lay a foundational understanding of where the Inner Inhibitor comes from.

HuffPost

The session, the company says, is meant to "provide a foundational understanding of farming, with relevant information for nutrition professionals to share with consumers".

Huffington Post

Finally, in cases in which students lacked a foundational understanding of chemical equilibrium, equilibrium constants, and Le Chatelier's principle, they were unable to apply these ideas to biochemistry.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Students who do not have a foundational understanding of the complex and interdependent roles that genes play in development may struggle to understand how development can influence the evolutionary process.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "develop a foundational understanding" of a complex subject, start by breaking down the core concepts into smaller, more manageable pieces. This approach simplifies the learning process and promotes better retention.

Common error

A common pitfall is to assume a certain level of pre-existing knowledge when trying to "develop a foundational understanding". Always start with the most basic principles, ensuring a solid groundwork before moving on to more advanced topics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "develop a foundational understanding" functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe the process of acquiring basic knowledge or comprehension of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

Academia

25%

News & Media

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "develop a foundational understanding" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the process of gaining basic knowledge of a subject. Ludwig AI's analysis highlights its frequent use in academic, scientific, and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. To ensure effective learning, it's best to begin with core concepts and avoid assuming prior knowledge. Alternative phrases like "gain a basic grasp" or "establish a core comprehension" can be used for variety, but "develop a foundational understanding" remains a clear and widely accepted choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain a basic grasp

This alternative emphasizes the initial stage of learning and comprehension, focusing on acquiring fundamental knowledge.

acquire a fundamental insight

This alternative focuses on gaining a deeper level of comprehension, emphasizing intuitive understanding.

establish a core comprehension

This alternative emphasizes the act of creating a solid base of knowledge.

build a rudimentary knowledge

This option highlights the construction of initial, basic understanding.

cultivate a primary awareness

Focuses on fostering an initial sense or consciousness about a particular subject or concept.

foster a fundamental perception

This variation emphasizes the nurturing of a basic sensory understanding.

achieve an elementary awareness

This emphasizes the accomplishment of reaching an initial level of awareness.

form a basic conception

This alternative focuses on creating a preliminary idea or mental image.

construct a preliminary framework

This alternative relates to creating an initial structural base for understanding.

attain a ground-level proficiency

This focuses on reaching a basic level of skill or competence.

FAQs

How can I effectively "develop a foundational understanding" of a new subject?

Begin with introductory materials, focus on core concepts, and progressively build your knowledge base. Active recall and spaced repetition are effective strategies.

What does it mean to "develop a foundational understanding" in a specific field?

It means gaining a solid grasp of the core principles, terminology, and basic theories essential for further learning and application in that field.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "develop a foundational understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "gain a basic grasp", "establish a core comprehension", or "build a rudimentary knowledge" depending on the context.

Why is it important to "develop a foundational understanding" before advancing to more complex topics?

A solid foundation ensures that you can effectively comprehend and apply more advanced concepts, preventing confusion and promoting long-term retention. It's similar to building a house; a strong foundation is essential for structural integrity.