increasing our understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasing our understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the enhancement or deepening of knowledge about a particular subject or topic. Example: "The research aims at increasing our understanding of climate change and its impacts on biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The place to start is by increasing our understanding of how people in 2011 live their lives.

The Guardian

Much of his research was concerned with increasing our understanding of the root causes of violence, especially among young people.

The Guardian

In reality, while lone geniuses and breakthroughs do occur, incremental progress and collaboration are more important in increasing our understanding of nature.

The Guardian

Anonymised data sets of basic health and medical information about the population will be absolutely invaluable in increasing our understanding of successful ageing," he said.

The Guardian

By spanning the social sciences and the Americas in his research, Professor of Sociology Edward Telles is increasing our understanding of how race and inequality interact.

Princeton University

That would be important in enhancing the governance-performance model and increasing our understanding of the association between corporate governance and firm performance.

Columbia University

Research in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging is rapidly increasing our understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between brain functioning and behavior.

Harvard University

The Department continues to lead the way towards unlocking the mysteries of the mind and increasing our understanding of brain diseases and disorders.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This research is increasing our understanding of local innovation ecosystems in emerging market contexts, including how they function and how they can be strengthened.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

By increasing our understanding of the underlying mechanism and monitoring of brain changes during TMS, we will markedly increase the utility of these powerful techniques.

Stanford University

Discoveries about the way that neurons form and communicate make this field one of the most promising routes toward increasing our understanding of the brain and mind.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increasing our understanding", ensure it's followed by a clear indication of what the understanding is about. For example, "increasing our understanding of climate change" is more effective than simply "increasing our understanding".

Common error

Avoid using "increasing our understanding" in contexts where the specific area of understanding isn't clearly defined. Vague statements like "This will lead to increasing our understanding" lack impact. Instead, specify what will be understood better.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasing our understanding" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. As Ludwig AI examples show, it often serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the action of making our comprehension greater.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

25%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increasing our understanding" is a versatile and frequently used gerund phrase that describes the act of enhancing knowledge. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and common across various domains, particularly in science, news, and academia. To maximize clarity, it's important to specify the subject of understanding. While synonyms like "deepening our grasp" and "broadening our knowledge" exist, "increasing our understanding" provides a direct and effective way to convey the concept of knowledge enhancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deepening our grasp

Replaces "understanding" with "grasp", implying a firmer hold on the knowledge.

broadening our knowledge

Shifts the focus to expanding the scope of what we know.

enhancing our comprehension

Emphasizes improving the ability to understand something.

expanding our awareness

Highlights growing consciousness of a subject.

developing our insights

Focuses on cultivating deeper, more nuanced perceptions.

fostering our appreciation

Suggests nurturing a greater sense of value or significance.

refining our perception

Implies improving the accuracy and clarity of our view.

sharpening our insight

Highlights making our comprehension more acute.

amplifying our cognizance

Emphasizes greatly expanding our knowledge or awareness of something.

enriching our insights

Focuses on making our insights more meaningful or rewarding.

FAQs

How can I use "increasing our understanding" in a sentence?

Use "increasing our understanding" to introduce a goal, benefit, or outcome related to enhanced knowledge. For example, "Further research is crucial for "increasing our understanding" of the disease." The phrase often acts as a prelude to explaining what is being understood.

What are some alternatives to "increasing our understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "deepening our grasp", "broadening our knowledge", or "enhancing our comprehension" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "increase our understanding" or "increasing our understanding"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct but have different functions. "Increase our understanding" is an imperative, a command or suggestion to enhance knowledge. "Increasing our understanding" is a gerund phrase, acting as a noun, often describing an ongoing process or a goal.

What's the difference between "improving our understanding" and "increasing our understanding"?

"Improving our understanding" implies that some level of understanding already exists and needs to be made better. "Increasing our understanding" simply suggests expanding our current knowledge, regardless of whether it's already good or not.