help them grasp

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "help them grasp" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to assist someone in understanding a concept or idea more clearly. Example: "The teacher used visual aids to help them grasp the complex topic of algebra."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Sesame Workshop has videos that parents can watch with preschoolers to help them grasp the permanence of death.

The New York Times

When directing actors, Timbers often invokes pop culture to help them grasp the emotional resonance of a distant historical moment.

The New Yorker

Tor Freeman's delightfully simple story and illustrations (which remind BoTD of the wonderful Richard Scarry) will delight children and their parents and help them grasp the basics of telling the time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"He has more economic brains than Germany's entire political class," according to Helmut Schmidt, a former chancellor who considers himself something of a leading economic light.Even if Mr Schmidt exaggerates, it is a good moment to have an economist as president because Germans need a dose of economics to help them grasp the need for painful reforms to boost their economy.

The Economist

Class activities that engage students in higher order of critical thinking and problem solving, or help them grasp particularly challenging concepts (p. 421).

Smart Learning Environments

Acquiring a linguistic understanding of a concept may provide students with a representational system that can help them grasp complex and novel information (e.g., Gentner et al., 2013).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Two boys who told me they'd been masturbating to Internet porn since middle school said they found themselves disoriented at the real-life encounters they had with girls, but Vernacchio helped them grasp the disjuncture.

The New York Times - Magazine

But in addition, pandas have a somewhat opposable digit low on the inside edge of the paw that helps them grasp bamboo.

Science Magazine

Cone-shaped, mineralized structures that surrounded the mouths of ancient eel-like creatures and helped them grasp and mince their food weren't teeth at all, according to a new study.

Science Magazine

Cone-shaped, mineralized structures that surrounded the mouths of ancient eel-like creatures called conodonts and helped them grasp and mince their food weren't teeth at all, according to a new study.

Science Magazine

The team has built a number of very cool little robots that kids can program on their mobile phone in a manner that helps them grasp at some computer science basics.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions or educational materials, use "help them grasp" when you want to emphasize making complex concepts easier to understand. Consider using visual aids or real-world examples to reinforce the explanation.

Common error

Avoid overly passive constructions that obscure who is doing the helping. Instead of writing "The concept was helped to be grasped by them", opt for the more direct and active "help them grasp the concept".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "help them grasp" functions as a transitive verb phrase, where "help" is the main verb and "grasp" acts as an infinitive complement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples, where it indicates assistance in understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "help them grasp" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey the idea of assisting someone in understanding something, particularly a complex concept. Ludwig AI analysis of various sources reveals its frequent use in news, science, and general contexts, indicating a neutral register. While alternatives like "aid their comprehension" and "facilitate their understanding" exist, "help them grasp" offers a direct and accessible way to express this idea. Remember to avoid overly passive constructions and to use concrete examples to "help them grasp" the concepts effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aid their comprehension

Replaces "help" with "aid" and "grasp" with the more formal "comprehension".

facilitate their understanding

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "help" with "facilitate" and "grasp" with "understanding".

enable them to understand

Breaks down "grasp" into "enable them to understand", providing a clearer, more direct phrasing.

assist their learning

Shifts the focus to the learning process, suggesting a more active role in helping someone learn.

make it easier for them to comprehend

Emphasizes the ease of understanding, using a more descriptive and less direct construction.

clarify their understanding

Focuses on removing ambiguity, making their existing understanding clearer.

illuminate the concept for them

Uses a metaphorical verb "illuminate" to suggest a visual or insightful understanding.

give them insight into

Implies providing a deeper understanding or perspective on something.

get across to them

More colloquial, suggesting successful communication of an idea.

get through to them

Colloquial, suggesting overcoming a barrier to understanding or acceptance.

FAQs

How can I use "help them grasp" in a sentence?

You can use "help them grasp" when you want to explain how something assists someone in understanding a concept. For example, "The teacher used visual aids to "help them grasp" the complex topic of algebra".

What are some alternatives to "help them grasp"?

Alternatives include "aid their comprehension", "facilitate their understanding", or "enable them to understand", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "help them grasp" formal or informal?

"Help them grasp" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "facilitate their understanding" might be preferred in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "help them grasp" and "help them understand"?

While similar, "help them understand" is a more general term. "Help them grasp" suggests assisting someone in getting a firm hold or a solid understanding of something, often implying a complex or challenging concept.