inhibit comprehension

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inhibit comprehension" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors or elements that hinder understanding or clarity in communication or learning. Example: "The use of overly complex jargon can inhibit comprehension among the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

When asked why they are leaving STEM degrees, students often report being frustrated with courses overburdened with content and with pacing structures that inhibit comprehension and reflection (Seymour 2006).

International Journal of STEM Education

A further question is whether, in the event that disclosing all serious risks to candidates makes for long forms that frighten them and therefore inhibit comprehension, investigators should prioritize adequate comprehension over adequate disclosure.

SEP

Alternatively, it may be the case that the increased visual complexity would inhibit comprehension of the symbols – that is, the increased complexity may prevent, or override, a benefit of increased comprehensibility.

Ergonomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But note that some studies show that book apps and interactive "enhanced" ebooks, while fun, can be distracting and inhibit reading comprehension.

Huffington Post

(iv) Processes of individual and communal reflexive monitoring that promote or inhibit users' comprehension of the effects of a complex intervention.

BMC Health Services Research

Like Radiohead's Kid A or even the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. more recent to the time, a murkiness in the mix of the record inhibits complete comprehension of the words".

Wikipedia

Some research suggests that placing children in a setting too advanced for their developmental (not chronological) age may actually delay or inhibit their mastery of reading and comprehension.

Huffington Post

Simultaneously, comprehension-based measures predicted participants' ability to inhibit eye movements to objects that shared features with predictable referents but were implausible completions (e.g., as reflected in eye movements to a white but inedible white car).

Acta Psychologica

Contiguity (Moreno and Mayer 1999) and coherence (Mayer et al. 2001) limit the cognitive load of instruction by using visual information to support comprehension and restricting unnecessary information that would require the use of additional cognitive resources to inhibit (Pasolunghi et al. 1999).

International Journal of STEM Education

Pacts inhibit decisive government.

The Guardian

Planning laws inhibit prosperity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inhibit comprehension", ensure the subject clearly identifies the cause of the hindered understanding. For example, "Technical jargon can "inhibit comprehension" among non-expert audiences".

Common error

Avoid vague statements. Instead of saying "the presentation "inhibited comprehension"", specify what aspect of the presentation was problematic, such as "the rapid pace of the presentation "inhibited comprehension"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inhibit comprehension" functions as a verb + noun phrase, where "inhibit" (verb) describes the action of hindering, and "comprehension" (noun) is the object being affected. It's used to express that something is preventing or reducing the ability to understand something. Ludwig provides examples of this usage in academic and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inhibit comprehension" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, meaning to hinder or obstruct understanding. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using the phrase, be sure to clearly identify the cause of the hindered comprehension to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "impede understanding" or "hinder understanding" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impede understanding

Replaces "inhibit" with "impede", suggesting a slowing or obstruction of understanding.

hinder understanding

Uses "hinder" instead of "inhibit", implying a difficulty in the process of understanding.

obstruct comprehension

Employs "obstruct" to indicate a blocking or preventing of comprehension.

hamper comprehension

Uses "hamper" to convey a sense of making comprehension difficult through obstacles.

reduce understanding

Suggests a decrease in the level of understanding, rather than a complete blockage.

diminish comprehension

Similar to "reduce understanding", but implies a gradual fading or weakening of comprehension.

stifle comprehension

Suggests a suppression or muffling of comprehension.

undermine understanding

Indicates a weakening or destabilizing of the foundation of understanding.

cloud understanding

Metaphorically suggests that something is making understanding unclear or obscured.

affect understanding negatively

A more general phrase indicating a negative impact on understanding, without specifying the nature of the hindrance.

FAQs

How can I use "inhibit comprehension" in a sentence?

You can use "inhibit comprehension" to describe factors that hinder understanding. For example, "Excessive use of technical terms can "inhibit comprehension" among a general audience".

What are some alternatives to "inhibit comprehension"?

Alternatives include "impede understanding", "hinder understanding", or "obstruct comprehension". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "inhibit comprehension" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "inhibit comprehension" is suitable for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to describe something that hinders understanding, and you can use alternatives that are suited for informal conversation such as "cloud understanding".

What's the difference between "inhibit comprehension" and "reduce understanding"?

"Inhibit comprehension" suggests a more direct blockage or prevention of understanding, while "reduce understanding" implies a lessening of the degree of understanding. "Inhibit comprehension" suggest an higher degree of blockage.