enabled us to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enabled us to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing how a particular action, tool, or experience has facilitated comprehension or insight into a subject. Example: "The detailed explanation enabled us to understand the complex theory much better."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The design of experiments using quantified data enabled us to understand effects of factors and interactions between them.

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects

Still, this result was useful as it enabled us to understand whether the phosphoUbretraCT conformation or the major phospho-Ub conformation accounted for the observed defects in chain assembly.

EMBO Journal

Oxford scientists pioneered techniques which enabled us to understand the role greenhouse gases play in climate change.

The Guardian

"Once we understood it as a leading, that enabled us to understand it in the way we think".

The New York Times

"It enabled us to understand and reconsider the services we provide, as well as to reflect on the trigger points within a lifespan that might lead people to us.

Independent

The collaboration enabled us to understand where we could push the boundaries, to see where improvements could be made within the production process to achieve a more human result".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Such estimation, using sustainability indicators of hydropower projects, enables us to understand marginal trade-offs among economic, environmental and social objectives of hydropower development.

Energy Policy

We conducted a time use assessment among peer supporters to enable us to understand how time was spent on project activities.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Longitudinal studies using only quantitative methods do not enable us to understand the dynamics and functioning of the determinants of mental health.

BMC Psychiatry

Ethnographic thinking, by contrast, enables us to understand social and political dynamics and use them to precipitate meaningful social change.

Huffington Post

The use of variance analysis across the three sites will enable us to understand intersite differences.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enabled us to understand" when you want to emphasize that a specific action, tool, or piece of information directly led to a better comprehension of a topic. It clearly indicates a cause-and-effect relationship between the enabler and the understanding gained.

Common error

Avoid using "enabled us to understand" for very simple concepts. Overusing the phrase with rudimentary ideas can make your writing sound pretentious. Simpler phrases like "helped us see" or "showed us" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enabled us to understand" functions as a causal link, highlighting that a specific action, tool, or event facilitated comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses how something made understanding possible.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enabled us to understand" is a useful tool for conveying how specific factors have contributed to comprehension. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and commonly used across diverse contexts, primarily in science, news, and formal business settings. While there are several alternatives like "allowed us to comprehend" or "facilitated our understanding", it's important to use the phrase judiciously to avoid sounding pretentious. Using it correctly emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between an action and the understanding gained, enhancing the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allowed us to comprehend

Replaces "understand" with "comprehend", emphasizing a more thorough grasp of the subject.

facilitated our understanding

Changes the structure to emphasize the action of facilitation rather than direct enablement.

helped us grasp

Uses a more informal verb, "grasp", suggesting a quicker or more intuitive understanding.

gave us insight into

Shifts the focus to gaining insight, implying a deeper level of understanding.

made it possible for us to perceive

Highlights the possibility of perceiving something that was previously unclear.

clarified our perception of

Focuses on the act of clarifying, suggesting that something was made easier to see or understand.

enhanced our awareness of

Implies a heightened level of consciousness or understanding.

contributed to our knowledge of

Emphasizes the addition of information or understanding to an existing body of knowledge.

shed light on our comprehension

Uses a metaphorical expression to suggest that something was illuminated, making it easier to understand.

aided our ability to decipher

Suggests that something complex or obscure was made easier to interpret.

FAQs

How can I use "enabled us to understand" in a sentence?

Use "enabled us to understand" when you want to emphasize that a specific action, tool, or piece of information directly led to a better comprehension of a topic. For example: "The new data analysis technique "enabled us to understand" the underlying patterns in customer behavior."

What are some alternatives to "enabled us to understand"?

You can use alternatives such as "allowed us to comprehend", "facilitated our understanding", or "helped us grasp" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "enabled us to understand" or "allows us to understand"?

"Enabled us to understand" refers to something that has already happened and facilitated understanding in the past. "Allows us to understand" refers to something that currently facilitates understanding or will do so in the future. The choice depends on the timeline you're discussing.

What's the difference between "enabled us to understand" and "helped us understand"?

While both phrases convey the idea of facilitating comprehension, "enabled us to understand" suggests a more direct or crucial role in achieving understanding. "Helped us understand" implies a supporting role but may not necessarily be the primary factor.