illuminating understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illuminating understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of gaining clarity or insight into a complex topic or idea. Example: "The lecture provided illuminating understanding of the intricate relationship between climate change and biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

4. Hence some interpreters have understood intuition as providing us with singular direct reference see especially Posy 2000 for an illuminating understanding of that, and several related, ideas.

SEP

But I think the old way is a more accurate and illuminating understanding of pride and why it's said to go before the fall.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

An Australian study that more or less sits within the general practice model mentioned previously [ 9], offers a qualitative investigation into core processes that define the work of care coordinators, illuminating understandings of care coordination and its unique features for this context [ 29].

Human Resources for Health

The science of anatomy, with its mantra that form follows function, has illuminated understanding of every organ but the brain.

The Economist

The third author also independently classified the coded material to illuminate understanding of the research question and to triangulate the first author's analysis.

BMC Women's Health

The use of standardized empirical approaches across multiple countries may illuminate understanding of evidence or knowledge valued in various countries, and how particular contexts affect policy development processes.

BMC Public Health

To illuminate understanding of the quantitative study findings, twelve in-depth interviews were carried out with the heads and technical heads of participating health centres using a semi-structured interview guide.

BMC Health Services Research

He was explicit about which passages in which films corresponded to specific motifs in his own work — a sorting out, it seemed, or a way of illuminating his understanding of who he is.

The New Yorker

Viewing power as dynamic and flowing is illuminating for understanding power relations in the contemporary intergenerational parenting coalition.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Aside from its merits in illuminating our understanding of the collective risks involved, it enables us to evaluate whether conventional deterministic analysis works sufficiently well in guiding us.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

Epigenomic profiles have been mapped across a broad range of brain regions and developmental contexts in postmortem human brain tissues, illuminating our understanding of epigenetic regulation in neural function and plasticity across the life course.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "illuminating understanding" to describe instances where new information or insights significantly clarify a previously complex or obscure topic. It works best when emphasizing the process of gaining clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "illuminating understanding" in situations where a simpler phrase like "clear understanding" or "basic knowledge" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illuminating understanding" functions as a verb phrase modifying a noun, indicating an action that clarifies or enhances comprehension. The Ludwig AI validates the correctness of the expression and lists numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "illuminating understanding" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Although not exceedingly common, the phrase effectively conveys the action of clarifying or enhancing comprehension, particularly in formal and scientific contexts. Examples from news sources like The New Yorker and scientific publications demonstrate its appropriate usage. While useful, remember that simpler alternatives like "clarifying comprehension" may be more suitable in less formal settings. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is primarily found in scientific and news contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarifying comprehension

Replaces "illuminating" with a synonym that emphasizes making something easier to understand.

enlightening insight

Swaps both words for synonyms, focusing on the revealing and insightful aspect of understanding.

fostering insight

Shifts the focus from immediate illumination to the process of encouraging deeper understanding.

developing comprehension

Emphasizes the gradual nature of gaining understanding, rather than a sudden revelation.

enhancing awareness

Highlights the improvement of one's perception and knowledge about a topic.

promoting perception

Focuses on encouraging a specific way of seeing or understanding something.

aiding interpretation

Suggests assistance in the process of explaining or understanding something complex.

advancing intellect

Implies that understanding is enhanced and moves forward.

boosting knowledge

Suggests boosting the volume of knowledge that one possesses.

increasing cognizance

Refers to growing someone's perception of a particular thing.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "illuminating understanding" in a sentence?

Use "illuminating understanding" to describe situations where a complex concept is made significantly clearer. For instance, "The study provided an illuminating understanding of the impact of social media on political polarization."

What are some alternatives to "illuminating understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "clarifying comprehension", "enlightening insight", or "fostering insight", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "illuminating understanding" and "clear understanding"?

"Illuminating understanding" suggests a more profound or revelatory level of clarity, implying that something previously obscure has been significantly clarified. "Clear understanding" is a more general term for having a good grasp of something.

In what contexts is "illuminating understanding" most appropriate?

This phrase is most suitable in academic, scientific, or professional contexts where complex topics are being discussed. It's less common in informal conversation.