grasp an understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

'grasp an understanding' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest that someone has a general comprehension of a concept. For example, "He was able to quickly grasp an understanding of the complex situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By having this information about the fans alone, you can grasp an understanding of the ambiance of the crowd.

Duke University

Despite their vast differences of values, cultures can grasp an understanding of one another, by "empathy".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Each interview was transcribed verbatim and read through several times by the first author (EC) to grasp an initial understanding of the discussions.

BMC Nursing

Interviews have been found appropriate for this study since the aim was to grasp an extended understanding of politicians' and civil servants' experiences and reasoning about malnutrition in elder care related to ethical responsibility.

BMC Medical Ethics

Moreover, we reflect on the necessity of adequate models to truly grasp a fundamental understanding of the immunological processes underlying regeneration in a clinically relevant context.

Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering

The most important aspect of this series of essays is that in a single volume it is possible to grasp a correct understanding of what has been and continues to be a very complex yet important subject.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

However, this situation changed after the emergence of a post-positivist philosophy of medical research, which suggests the need for both quantitative and qualitative research to grasp a better understanding of the reality.

Radiography

In order to enable the students to thoughtfully evaluate increasingly complex environmental issues, this class demands entry-level undergraduates from a spectrum of majors to grasp a deep understanding of diverse material that ranges from how humans have moderated Earth's carbon cycle to how Walt Whitman's poetry influenced environmental thought.

University of California, Berkeley

A fouling resistance due to particle deposition has been embedded into the formulation and an analysis of available data has been carried out to grasp a sound understanding on governing phenomena that could result into a deterioration of the heat exchanger performance.

Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science

Newly appointed Grecians club captain, Scot Bennett, says that he has spent the last few weeks reading articles in local newspapers to grasp a better understanding of their trip to Brazil.

BBC

They focused on the fact that our health care system needs to change and also grasp a better understanding of TBI.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider using "develop an understanding" to emphasize the progressive nature of learning, rather than a one-time "grasp".

Common error

Avoid using "grasp" too frequently in formal contexts. Instead, diversify your vocabulary with alternatives like "comprehend", "discern", or "perceive" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grasp an understanding" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of acquiring a basic level of comprehension. As shown in Ludwig, it highlights the process of initially comprehending something, suggesting an active effort to gain insight.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grasp an understanding" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the process of acquiring initial comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, highlighting its function to denote an initial comprehension of a concept. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse sources, including academic papers, news articles, and online resources. Alternatives such as "acquire an understanding" or "develop an understanding" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquire an understanding

Focuses more on the process of obtaining understanding.

gain an understanding

Emphasizes the benefit or advantage of understanding.

develop an understanding

Highlights the gradual and progressive nature of understanding.

attain an understanding

Suggests a more formal and deliberate effort to achieve understanding.

secure an understanding

Implies that the understanding has been confirmed and is safe.

form an understanding

Focuses on the construction or creation of understanding.

build an understanding

Highlights the additive and structural aspects of building understanding.

cultivate an understanding

Emphasizes the care and attention required to nurture understanding.

foster an understanding

Highlights the support and encouragement given to the development of understanding.

absorb an understanding

Implies passively receiving information that leads to understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "grasp an understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "grasp an understanding" to suggest gaining a basic comprehension of something, as in "After reading the manual, I began to "grasp an understanding" of the new software".

What are some alternatives to "grasp an understanding"?

Some alternatives include "acquire an understanding", "gain an understanding", or "develop an understanding", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "grasp an understanding" or "have an understanding"?

"Grasp an understanding" implies a more active and initial comprehension, while "have an understanding" suggests a state of already possessing knowledge or comprehension.

What does it mean to "grasp an understanding" of something?

To ""grasp an understanding"" means to begin to comprehend or understand something, often after some effort or explanation. It implies an initial gaining of insight.