first understood about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first understood about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and awkwardly constructed, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "The concept was first understood about the nature of light in the 17th century."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"That's when I first understood about competition or achieving goals," she said, adding that her mother was always there to remind her to stay focused.

The New York Times - Sports

And it wasn't until I first understood about aliasing, by the way, Doc, that I understood why when I went to Western movies, every once in a while you'd see the wagon wheels turning backwards.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was David Bowie who, in 1997, first understood that technology might be about to disrupt the old pattern.

The Guardian - Opinion

It wasn't until a computer science class at Duke that she "first understood what engineering was all about — building something very quickly and being able to play with it".

The New York Times - Tech

To fix mobile advertising — and that's really what Quettra is trying to do — you have to first understand more about the user.

TechCrunch

In order to do that, we must first understand a bit about the brain.

Forbes

They'd probably like to think so--and who can blame them--but to really understand this strange phenomenon, you must first understand a bit about the color-perceiving "cone cells" that line the backs of the eyes.

HuffPost

First understand the problem, advice about it, discuss about it but do it with interest.

WikiHow

Expecting she'll show a touch of speed looking to stay close before trying to win the stamina game exiting that route effort, and regarding the jump from $8,000 to $32,000, we need to first understand, this group is about a $12,500 bunch.

Los Angeles Times

It was the first time that I had grasped the idea of scarcity, the first time I understood about "too late".

Independent

To achieve very real health improvement at the workplace, employers should first understand what the evidence says about what works, and then weave together individual health promotion programs with organizational change interventions that build on and support a healthy company culture.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "first understood" or "first came to understand" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "understood" as it often creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect sentence. Instead, use "first understood" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first understood about" attempts to describe an initial comprehension but its grammatical structure is flawed. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first understood about" aims to express the beginning of comprehension, but is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is awkwardly constructed and unclear. While it appears in both news and academic contexts, it's advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives like "first understood" or "first came to understand" to ensure clarity. Pay attention to the intended audience and adjust the phrasing accordingly to maintain professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially understood

Removes "about" for a more grammatically correct phrasing.

first comprehended

Uses a more formal synonym for "understood".

initially grasped

Replaces "first understood about" with a more formal and concise expression of initial comprehension.

began to understand

Focuses on the commencement of the understanding process.

initially learned about

Substitutes "understood" with "learned" to emphasize the acquisition of knowledge.

first came to understand

Adds a verb of motion to emphasize the process of understanding.

first realized

Highlights the moment of sudden comprehension or insight.

first became aware of

Shifts the focus to awareness rather than understanding.

first perceived

Emphasizes the initial recognition or awareness of something.

gained initial insight into

Highlights the acquisition of a deeper understanding or perspective.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "first understood" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "first understood about", use "first understood" followed directly by the object of understanding. For example, "I first understood the theory in college" is correct.

What's a more formal way to say "first understood about"?

A more formal alternative is "initially grasped". For instance, "He initially grasped the complexities of the situation."

Is it grammatically correct to use "about" after "understood"?

Generally, it's better to avoid using "about" directly after "understood". Instead, try rephrasing to use "first understood" or "first came to understand."

What can I say instead of "first understood about" in a scientific context?

In a scientific context, consider using "initially comprehended" or "first became aware of" for a more precise and professional tone.