few understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"few understanding" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not easy to understand. For example: "The instructions on how to operate this machine are rather confusing; I only have a few understanding of the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

While in Poland the painting's context and message was clearly understood, the work, displayed in Paris, proved to be too obscure for the audience there, with few understanding the complex, historical context; some French critics interpreted it as a painting of a gambling hall.

Wikipedia

The style of life Gray developed at Eton, devoted to quiet study, the pleasures of the imagination, and a few understanding friends, was to persist for the rest of his years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although the dual roles of AIF in life and death have been proposed 4, its pathological significances have few understanding.

EMBO Reports

Then they lobby and make the word "tort reform" a household word despite few understanding it.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I'm having a few problems understanding Adam myself if I'm honest..

The Guardian - TV & Radio

After videophones were installed, participants had relatively few problems understanding the proper use of the videophone.

HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care

Most reported few difficulties understanding their health providers; those who did report difficulties focused primarily on language differences with little mention of medical jargon or overly complex language.

BMC Nephrology

This paper explores the relevance of existing and ongoing scholarship within the water community, as well as current research needs, for understanding FEW processes and systems and implementing FEW solutions through innovations in technologies, infrastructures, and policies.

Advances in Water Resources

Here are some tips to market your business through social networks, three tips for better social media engagement and a few hints for understanding Google Analytics.

The New York Times

As a sometime adviser to Republicans, I'd like to offer a few guidelines to understanding their approach to economic policy.

The New York Times

Despite all the ties, the Israeli press reports that Netanyahu is nervous about what Trump who shows few signs of understanding either history or diplomacy might ask of him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few understanding", ensure the context clearly indicates what is not well understood. For example, specify "few understanding of the historical context" instead of simply "few understanding".

Common error

Avoid using "few understanding" in situations where complete ignorance is implied. The phrase suggests some level of comprehension, however minimal, and is thus inappropriate when there's zero understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few understanding" functions as a determiner + noun construction. It describes a limited degree of comprehension or knowledge. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct, but its frequency is relatively low.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "few understanding" is grammatically sound but not particularly common in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, while also highlighting its limited usage. It indicates a restricted degree of comprehension, and more formal alternatives, like "limited comprehension" or "inadequate insight", are often preferred in academic or professional contexts. Its occurrence spans across various domains including news, science, encyclopedias and wikis. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in specifying the subject or concept that is not well understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited comprehension

Replaces "few" with "limited" and "understanding" with "comprehension", offering a more formal tone.

scarce grasp

Substitutes "understanding" with "grasp" and "few" with "scarce", indicating a lack of comprehension or familiarity.

tenuous knowledge

Replaces "understanding" with "knowledge" and "few" with "tenuous", suggesting a weak or uncertain understanding.

inadequate insight

Emphasizes the lack of deep understanding or intuition about something, using "inadequate" to express the limited nature.

superficial awareness

Highlights a shallow level of understanding, focusing on surface-level knowledge rather than comprehensive insight.

rudimentary acquaintance

Implies a very basic or initial familiarity with a subject, suggesting a need for further learning.

minimal perception

Focuses on the limited ability to perceive or grasp the nuances of a situation or concept.

deficient insight

Highlights the inadequacy of one's comprehension or perspective.

restricted appreciation

Suggests a limited capacity to fully appreciate or understand the complexities or value of something.

narrow interpretation

Indicates a limited or biased way of understanding something, focusing on a single perspective.

FAQs

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

You can use "few understanding" to describe a limited comprehension of a subject, such as "He had "few understanding" of the complex political situation".

What are some alternatives to saying "few understanding"?

Alternatives include "limited comprehension", "scarce grasp", or "tenuous knowledge", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "little understanding" or "few understanding"?

"Little understanding" generally refers to an inability to comprehend a subject, while ""few understanding"" suggests a limited but present level of comprehension. The choice depends on the degree of comprehension you want to express.

Can "few understanding" be used in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, ""few understanding"" might be considered less formal. In academic or professional contexts, alternatives such as "limited comprehension" or "inadequate insight" may be more appropriate.