is not well understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"is not well understood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that is not fully understood. For example, "His motives for doing this are not well understood."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet it is not well understood.

The Economist

Why this happens is not well understood.

The New York Times

A stylist's responsibility is not well understood.

The New York Times - Style

However, their interaction is not well understood.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

"This is not well understood," he said.

The New York Times

Its cause is not well understood.

The New York Times

However, this process is not well understood.

Journal of Power Sources

Its etiology is not well understood.

The Journal of Pain

However, their underlying reasoning is not well understood.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

However, the molecular mechanism is not well understood.

Stanford University

The cause of preeclampsia is not well understood.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is not well understood", ensure the context clearly indicates what specifically lacks understanding. Be precise about the subject that is not fully grasped to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "is not well understood" as a vague placeholder. Instead of stating that a broad topic isn't well understood, specify which aspects are unclear or require further investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not well understood" functions as a descriptive expression, indicating a lack of complete knowledge or comprehension regarding a particular subject. Ludwig shows numerous examples across diverse fields where this phrase is utilized to highlight areas needing further research or clarification.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is not well understood" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate a lack of comprehensive knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides ample examples across science, news, and academic domains. When using this phrase, precision is key; specify what aspects are unclear to avoid vague statements. Alternatives like "remains poorly understood" or "is not fully grasped" can offer nuanced variations. This phrase is suitable for neutral to formal registers, commonly employed in academic and scientific writing to acknowledge knowledge gaps and prompt further exploration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remains poorly understood

Changes the verb and adverb to emphasize the continued state of being poorly understood.

is not fully grasped

Replaces "well understood" with "fully grasped" to denote a lack of complete comprehension.

is imperfectly known

Uses "imperfectly known" to suggest that the knowledge is incomplete or flawed.

lacks clear explanation

Shifts the focus to the absence of a clear explanation rather than a lack of understanding.

is shrouded in mystery

Emphasizes the mysterious nature of the subject due to a lack of understanding.

is poorly characterized

Focuses on the lack of detailed description or definition of the subject.

is subject to debate

Highlights that the matter is controversial and lacks a settled understanding.

is an open question

Indicates that the subject is unresolved and lacks a definitive answer.

defies easy explanation

Suggests the issue is difficult to explain simply because it's not fully known.

is open to interpretation

Suggests that there is more than one possible understanding or explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "is not well understood" in a sentence?

You can use "is not well understood" to describe concepts, phenomena, or processes that lack comprehensive knowledge or clarity. For example, "The pathogenesis of this disease is not well understood."

What are some alternatives to "is not well understood"?

Alternatives include "remains poorly understood", "is not fully grasped", or "is imperfectly known", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it better to say "is not well understood" or "is poorly understood"?

Both "is not well understood" and "is poorly understood" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice depends on stylistic preference, although "is not well understood" is slightly more common.

What makes something "not well understood"?

Something that "is not well understood" lacks sufficient data, research, or consensus to provide a clear and complete explanation. This can be due to complexity, limited access, or emerging information.