implied understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"implied understanding" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to an underlying or unspoken agreement between two or more parties. For example, "The teacher and student had an implied understanding that the student would do the work and the teacher would give helpful feedback."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr Aziz told his interrogators that the two countries had received millions of dollars of trade and service contracts with Iraq, "with the implied understanding that their political posture...would be pro-Iraqi".

The Economist

You know, people who I've friended over the years with the implied understanding that we'd mainly be sharing information that we're mutually interested in.

TechCrunch

When they compared student responses with the recorded conversations, they found that 26% of the time student responses implied understanding, while the quality of conversations suggested otherwise.

CBE Life Sciences Education

The theoretical framework for these processes uses an implied understanding of organizations as predictable with potentially controllable components.

The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Detailed analysis of the sequence of events, conversations, course of conduct, and implied understandings are important but these facts are frequently in dispute.

Huffington Post

If he was overshadowed by it, never mind.Sympathy might not imply understanding.

The Economist

Bottom-up approach implies understanding the building blocks and then assembling them into a useful structure.

Nano and Microstructural Design of Advanced Materials A Commemorative Volume on Professor G. Thomas' Seventieth Birthday

Responses based on accepting and engaging tensions inherent in competing demands imply understanding contradiction, tension, and ambiguity as natural conditions of work (Lewis 2000).

Journal of Organization Design

There is evidence to show that just making forecast information available and research accessible to vulnerable individuals and communities does not imply understanding or change end-user decision-making processes (Zia and Wagner 2015).

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Their study demonstrates that even acceptance of evolutionary theory does not imply understanding and that misconceptions must be identified if instructors are to assist students in undergoing conceptual change (Cunningham and Wescott 2009).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

This implies understanding the keys used to select mating partners and how and when they are used.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "implied understanding" to describe situations where an agreement or comprehension exists without explicit communication. This highlights a subtle, nuanced connection between parties.

Common error

Avoid assuming that an "implied understanding" is universally shared. Always check for clarity, especially when dealing with sensitive topics or new team members. Just because something feels obvious to you, doesn't mean it's obvious to others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "implied understanding" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a tacit agreement or unspoken comprehension between individuals or entities. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "implied understanding" refers to a tacit or unspoken agreement, suggesting a shared comprehension between parties that is not explicitly stated. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically sound, though relatively rare in occurrence. While it finds use in both scientific and news media contexts, understanding its subtle nuance is crucial for effective communication. Be mindful of the potential for misinterpretations and always confirm shared understanding when clarity is essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

implicit agreement

Similar to "implied understanding" but uses 'implicit' instead of 'implied'.

tacit agreement

Focuses on the agreement aspect, emphasizing its unspoken nature.

unspoken agreement

Directly highlights the absence of explicit communication in the agreement.

assumed understanding

Emphasizes the assumption of comprehension between parties.

underlying assumption

Shifts focus to the foundational belief or premise upon which something is based.

unstated assumption

Highlights that the assumption has not been explicitly voiced.

tacit knowledge

Focuses on the knowledge aspect, highlighting its unspoken nature.

inferred comprehension

Stresses the process of deducing understanding from indirect cues.

mutual recognition

Focuses on the shared awareness or acceptance between parties.

common ground

Indicates shared beliefs, values, or knowledge that facilitate understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "implied understanding" to describe situations where there is an unspoken agreement or shared comprehension between two or more parties. For example: "There was an "implied understanding" that everyone would contribute equally to the project".

What's a good substitute for "implied understanding"?

Alternatives for "implied understanding" include "tacit agreement", "unspoken agreement", or "implicit agreement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "implied understanding" and "explicit agreement"?

"Implied understanding" refers to an unspoken or tacit agreement, while "explicit agreement" denotes a formally stated and clearly defined agreement. The former relies on inference and shared context, the latter on direct communication.

What does it mean when someone says there's an "implied understanding"?

It typically means that both parties are operating under a set of assumptions or expectations that haven't been explicitly discussed or confirmed, but are nonetheless mutually recognized and acted upon.