increase understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"increase understanding" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in many contexts, for example: "Research into the field of education aims to increase understanding of how people learn."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Stepping up AIDS education efforts would help increase understanding.

The New York Times

Long reads increase understanding of disease heritability through haplotype phasing.

Yale University

So how do you increase understanding during conflict?

University of California, Berkeley

Tate's core objective is to increase understanding and enjoyment of British, modern and contemporary art.

The Guardian

Muslim communities are engaging in outreach to try to increase understanding of Islam.

The Guardian

It's also true that neuroscience and cognitive psychology can increase understanding of flaws in decision-making.

The Guardian - Books

This time is needed for, among other things, students to utilize deliberate practice to increase understanding.

The Washington Post

That will include joint efforts by the two countries to increase understanding of those standards among manufacturers and exporters.

The New York Times

This program attempts to increase understanding of the human-built world.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The meeting is intended to increase understanding between the cultures and to encourage loans.

The New York Times - Arts

Share your knowledge to increase understanding of how immigration affects American society – for better or worse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about complex topics, use the phrase "increase understanding" to emphasize the importance of clarity and accessibility for your audience. For example, "The goal of this article is to increase understanding of quantum physics among non-scientists."

Common error

Be specific about what you aim to "increase understanding" of. Avoid using it as a general statement without a clear subject. Instead of saying "We need to increase understanding", specify "We need to increase understanding of the impact of climate change on local ecosystems."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase understanding" primarily functions as a verb phrase where "increase" acts as a transitive verb and "understanding" serves as its direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically sound and commonly used, serving to denote the action of making something more comprehensible.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increase understanding" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the process of making something more comprehensible. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely employed across diverse fields like academia, news, and science. When using this phrase, it's best to specify what understanding you aim to increase for clarity. Alternative expressions include "enhance comprehension", "foster awareness" and "promote insight". By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "increase understanding" to convey your message with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enhance comprehension

Replaces "increase" with "enhance" and "understanding" with "comprehension", focusing on improving the level of understanding.

foster awareness

Shifts the focus to creating a greater sense of awareness, which can lead to increased understanding.

promote insight

Highlights the development of deeper insights, suggesting a more profound level of understanding.

develop knowledge

Emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge, which is a key component of understanding.

expand awareness

Focuses on broadening the scope of awareness, implying a greater overall understanding.

deepen insight

Suggests a more thorough and profound level of insight, leading to a richer understanding.

cultivate insight

Implies a gradual development of insight through careful effort, enriching understanding.

advance knowledge

Focuses on making progress in the realm of knowledge which is a subset of understanding.

build comprehension

Emphasizes the gradual construction of understanding, as if building a structure.

broaden comprehension

Focuses on the increasing breadth of the understanding, encompassing more topics or perspectives.

FAQs

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

You can use "increase understanding" to describe the goal of making something clearer or more comprehensible. For example, "The new educational program aims to "increase understanding" of financial literacy among teenagers."

What are some alternatives to "increase understanding"?

Alternatives include "enhance comprehension", "foster awareness", "promote insight", or "develop knowledge", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "increase understanding" or "improve understanding"?

Both "increase understanding" and "improve understanding" are grammatically correct and widely used. "Increase" suggests expanding the scope of understanding, while "improve" suggests enhancing the quality of existing understanding. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What is the difference between "understanding" and "comprehension" when trying to increase them?

"Understanding" generally refers to grasping the meaning or significance of something, while "comprehension" implies a more thorough and complete grasp. To "increase understanding" may involve making something initially understandable, while enhancing comprehension suggests refining and deepening that understanding. You can also say "enhance comprehension".