Meyers' view of history tends to be a bit pat and, in its way, cloyingly moralistic, but his essential insight that our grasp of human biology is appreciably more fragile than we typically appreciate is exactly right.
As a historian, Briggs's hallmark was his breadth of interest and his grasp of the essential in the torrent of diverse material.
The P-I endorsed Gore, for his "experience, knowledge, and philosophy", and "because we have grave misgivings about the breadth and depth of Bush's grasp of the essential knowledge required of the president and commander in chief of the world's sole superpower".
To be an informed reader in the biomedical sciences, it is essential to have a sound grasp of the concepts related to statistics.
As proteins play a role in both physiological and pathological functions, it is now recognised that investigation of proteins is essential to obtain an accurate grasp of cellular physiology.
We can't help feeling that he has failed to display the statesman's grasp of the essentials of an intricate relationship.
Walliams's assurance and humanity come across in these quiet lines, even while he retains a keen grasp of such essentials as aggressive burping (the moment when Mr Stink subdues bullying Rosamund, who's just blown £500 of daddy's dosh in Topshop, with a putrid belch whose echoes last a page and a half, made me involuntarily squeal with delight).
To understand profit and loss and develop financial skills, having a good grasp of maths is essential.
Understanding their design principles and mechanisms of processing information is essential to grasp the molecular basis of virtually all biological processes.
"I think his lack of grasp of some of the essentials — of the substance — has hurt a little bit," former Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) told VICE News.
"But a deep grasp of technology is becoming more essential across our resource in every department, not less".
