extend understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"extend understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone has the opportunity to learn more about a particular subject. For example: "The course seeks to extend understanding of the English language."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

These results extend understanding of how firms decide to augment their knowledge resources in a knowledge-intensive industry.

Research Policy

The discussion to follow has been designed on the basis of increasing timescale of the observed variations in rotation and has been organized in such a way that theoretical ideas and observational evidence are introduced only as they are required to extend understanding.

Treatise on Geophysics

The current findings extend understanding to the neuropathophysiological mechanisms of RE.

BioMed Research International

Roth, usually fond of both sides of an argument, fails to extend understanding toward -- and only makes fun of -- the possible discomfort of minorities or women in settings like Athena, where prejudice may be trickily institutional and atmospheric, causing events like the "spooks" utterance to be seized hold of and overinterpreted.

The New York Times - Books

Recognition and interpretation of palaeo-landslides and their lake impoundments is vital to extend understanding of the frequency-magnitude and spatial characteristics of landslide dams.

Geoscience Letters

Findings from this research extend understanding of the influence of exterior store atmospherics upon consumer behavior, an area that has received relatively little attention.

Fashion and Textiles

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

This paper aims to extend understandings of the corporate political activity (CPA) of multinational enterprises (MNEs).

Journal of World Business

Even in crowded curricula, climate change offers an opportunity to reinforce and extend understandings of how interactions between people and place affect health.

BMC Medical Education

Yet, even in crowded curricula, climate change offers an opportunity to reinforce and extend understandings of how interactions between people and place affect health.

BMC Medical Education

"Starving baby images will elicit an immediate response, but it will do absolutely nothing for extending understanding of famine and disaster relief," he says.

The Guardian

Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and open-ended qualitative responses analysed for extending understanding.

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, use "extend understanding" to introduce how your work builds upon previous research or offers new perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "extend understanding" with overly general or abstract subjects. Be specific about what understanding is being extended (e.g., "extend understanding of cognitive processes" rather than "extend understanding in general").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extend understanding" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of increasing or deepening comprehension of a subject. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates that new knowledge builds upon existing foundations. Examples from Ludwig show its use in academic and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extend understanding" is a commonly used phrase that describes the process of increasing or deepening comprehension. It is grammatically correct and particularly prevalent in scientific and academic contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. When using this phrase, specificity about the subject matter is key. Alternatives include "broaden understanding" and "deepen understanding", each with slightly different nuances. Keep in mind these tips for more clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strengthen understanding

Emphasizes making an existing understanding more robust or firm.

widen understanding

Focuses on increasing the breadth or scope of comprehension.

enlarge understanding

Highlights making understanding more comprehensive or extensive.

broaden understanding

Similar to 'widen', this emphasizes increasing the range of knowledge.

expand understanding

Indicates making the current understanding more detailed or complete.

deepen understanding

Suggests exploring the underlying complexities to obtain a more thorough comprehension.

cultivate understanding

Suggests nurturing or developing comprehension over time.

foster understanding

Focuses on creating an environment that encourages comprehension.

advance understanding

Implies moving comprehension forward or improving it.

promote understanding

Emphasizes raising awareness and facilitating comprehension in others.

FAQs

How can I use "extend understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "extend understanding" to describe how new information or research builds upon existing knowledge. For example, "This study aims to "broaden our understanding" of the topic."

What's a more formal way to say "extend understanding"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "enhance comprehension", "advance knowledge", or "deepen insight" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

What words typically follow "extend understanding"?

Common words that follow "extend understanding" include "of", "about", "to", or a noun phrase describing the subject matter (e.g., "extend understanding of climate change", "extend understanding about human behavior").

How does "extend understanding" differ from "gain understanding"?

"Extend understanding" suggests building upon existing knowledge, while "gain understanding" implies acquiring knowledge for the first time. For example, you "extend understanding" about a subject you already know a little about, but "gain understanding" when you are first learning.