hard-won understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard-won understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe knowledge or insights that have been gained through significant effort, struggle, or experience. Example: "After years of research and experimentation, the scientist finally achieved a hard-won understanding of the complex phenomenon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Biological flaws can easily conquer hard-won understanding.

The New York Times

But too much of the economic profession had lost the hard-won understanding of earlier generations.

The New York Times

By the time Sophie reunites with her mother, she has achieved a hard-won understanding about sacrifice and forgiveness.

The New York Times - Books

The most haunting part of the book is Klebold's failure to find answers, her hard-won understanding of the fact that the stories we tell about each other are too simple.

The Guardian - Books

Maybe that openness was always part of his disposition, but if you read "The Night of the Gun," his memoir about his harrowing years as a crack addict in Minnesota, you got the impression that his reluctance to judge others was a product of a hard-won understanding of human fallibility, beginning with his own.

The New Yorker

Though moves towards meaningful political reform remain glacial at best, activists say these new regulations are part of an unseen river of social change that is starting to erode the glacier from below.From comrades to citizensBelatedly, the party realises that NGOs have a number of things it lacks: ideas, a hard-won understanding of the issues on the ground and trust from the local community.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He meant a whole religious world, something from the time before the haoles came — a Hawaiian world with elaborate rules and taboos and secret, hard-won understandings about the land, the ocean, birds, fish, animals, and the gods.

The New Yorker

The result is part the "Anne" we know and love — apple blossoms and hard-won understandings, Cuthberts, raspberry cordial — and part untrustworthy stranger, not "Anne of Green Gables" at all.

The New Yorker

By broadly redefining the relationship between Afghanistan and the United States, the deal builds on hard-won new understandings the two countries reached in recent weeks on the thorny issues of detainees and Special Operations raids.

The New York Times

It is the story of our growth and the hard won understanding of what low income families really need to improve their lives and their standing in the US.

Huffington Post

Without it, anticipating the effects of climate change, rather than just reacting to them, will be difficult.Such understanding is hard-won, though.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse. While effective, excessive repetition can diminish the impact. Vary your language by incorporating synonyms and related phrases to add nuance and prevent monotony.

Common error

Avoid using "hard-won understanding" when describing something that is easily grasped or readily apparent. The phrase implies a significant investment of effort and is inappropriate if the understanding came effortlessly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard-won understanding" functions as a noun phrase where "hard-won" acts as an adjective modifying "understanding". It describes a specific type of understanding that is achieved through significant effort and overcoming challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard-won understanding" is a phrase used to describe insights or knowledge gained through significant effort and struggle. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing. While not overly common, it effectively conveys the value of understanding achieved through perseverance. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for situations where considerable effort was indeed required to achieve comprehension. Consider using alternative phrases like "hard-earned comprehension" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard-earned comprehension

Replaces "understanding" with "comprehension", implying a grasp of the subject matter acquired through labor.

difficultly acquired insight

Directly states that the insight was not easily obtained.

painstakingly acquired knowledge

Emphasizes the careful and diligent effort involved in gaining knowledge.

dearly bought insight

Highlights the cost or sacrifice associated with gaining insight.

struggle-based awareness

Focuses on the struggle as the primary means of achieving awareness.

knowledge gained through adversity

Highlights the role of challenging circumstances in acquiring knowledge.

laboriously developed insight

Focuses on the sustained effort and work required to develop insight.

knowledge born of experience

Emphasizes the role of direct experience in shaping knowledge.

experience-based knowledge

Focuses on experience as the foundation for gaining knowledge.

carefully constructed understanding

Implies a gradual and deliberate process of building understanding.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "hard-won understanding" in a sentence?

Use "hard-won understanding" to highlight insights gained through considerable effort or overcoming challenges. For instance, "After years of research, she developed a "hard-won understanding" of the disease's complexities".

What are some alternatives to "hard-won understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "hard-earned comprehension", "painstakingly acquired knowledge", or "dearly bought insight" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "hard-won understanding" in informal contexts?

While grammatically correct, "hard-won understanding" carries a formal tone. In informal settings, consider using simpler phrases like "finally got it" or "learned the hard way" to convey a similar meaning.

What distinguishes "hard-won understanding" from "simple understanding"?

"Hard-won understanding" implies significant effort and struggle to achieve comprehension, while "simple understanding" suggests ease and lack of difficulty in grasping something. The former emphasizes the process, while the latter focuses on the result.