hinder understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hinder understanding" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe something that makes it harder to understand or comprehend something else. For example, "The jargon used in this report hinders understanding of the underlying facts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

These obstacles hinder understanding the properties of the BaTiO3 thin film etching process and further impede the related optimization of process.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This is doubly debilitating for the poems in question, firstly because ill-considered line-breaks will hinder understanding, and secondly because well-considered line-breaks will aid it.

The Guardian - Books

Although these studies have illuminated multiple aspects of transporter structures and dynamics, a number of questions remain unresolved that so far hinder understanding transport mechanisms in an energy landscape perspective.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

The ensuing dispute was messy, and served, I think, to hinder understanding of, and engagement with, Austin's initial discussion.

SEP

First, for example, Political/Religious Conservatism seems to hinder understanding of and attitudes of relevance toward evolutionary theory.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

These discussions were also a point of strength in this didactic project because they revealed misconceptions and ideas that could hinder understanding and learning.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Snob appeal and bad psychology have hindered understanding the aesthetics of collecting.

Johns Hopkins University

The editors and authors want to break up with a tradition that, in their view, keeps all these topics separated and marginalize some of them, thus hindering understanding.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Wilkin (1997) found that directions to self-explain using a diagram hindered understanding in examples in physical motion when students were presented with text and instructed to draw a diagram.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

No physiological substrate for ECEL-1/DINE has been identified, which has hindered understanding the neuro-protective mechanism and its role in respiratory control.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Our experience reading and using very brief summaries of other systematic reviews of complex interventions led us to opt for more, rather than less, categories of information, because brevity sometimes hindered understanding – for example, about the content, format or delivery of complex interventions.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "hinder understanding", ensure that you clearly identify what is causing the obstruction. This provides context and allows for potential solutions to be explored.

Common error

Avoid using "hinder understanding" without specifying the cause. For instance, instead of saying "The complex concepts hinder understanding", specify what makes the concepts complex and how it affects comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hinder understanding" functions as a verb phrase that describes an action that makes comprehension more difficult. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hinder understanding" is a useful and grammatically correct expression for describing factors that impede comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage across diverse fields like science, news, and academia. While the phrase is quite versatile, always remember to specify the cause of the obstruction to provide clarity and context. Consider alternatives like "obstruct comprehension" or "impede comprehension" to diversify your language, and avoid vague statements that lack specific causes to make your writing more precise and impactful. Based on the frequency of the phrase across various sources, the level of formality is generally neutral to formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstruct comprehension

Emphasizes the act of blocking or impeding understanding.

impede comprehension

Highlights the slowing down or delaying of understanding.

inhibit comprehension

Focuses on restraining or suppressing understanding.

undermine comprehension

Suggests a weakening or subversion of understanding.

compromise understanding

Indicates that something is damaging or weakening understanding.

hamper comprehension

Focuses on the difficulties and obstacles that understanding can meet.

cloud understanding

Implies a situation where understanding becomes obscured or unclear.

confuse understanding

Highlights the act of making comprehension uncertain or unclear.

obscure understanding

Focuses on making understanding difficult to perceive or comprehend.

muddy the waters

An idiom meaning to make something more confusing or complicated.

FAQs

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

You can use "hinder understanding" to describe something that obstructs or makes it difficult to comprehend a concept. For example: "The technical jargon used in the document can "hinder understanding" of the key issues."

What are some alternatives to "hinder understanding"?

Alternatives include "obstruct comprehension", "impede comprehension", or "inhibit comprehension", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "hinder understanding" or "hinders understanding"?

Use "hinder understanding" when the subject is plural or when you're using a modal verb (e.g., "can hinder"). Use "hinders understanding" when the subject is singular. For example: "These factors hinder understanding" versus "This factor hinders understanding."

How does "hinder understanding" differ from "improve understanding"?

"Hinder understanding" means to make understanding more difficult, while "improve understanding" means to make it easier. They are antonyms and represent opposite effects on comprehension.