it is mutually understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"it is mutually understood" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which two or more parties share an agreement without explicitly discussing it. For example: "The terms of our agreement were never discussed, but it was mutually understood that we would split the proceeds equally."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sometimes the agreement is explicit, but most of the time it is mutually understood, and so the interview tends to proceed rather like a polite dance, with each party manoeuvring in its own interests.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's mutually understood, for example, that everybody goes home at night.

The New Yorker

Conceptualization of a structured report in pancreatic cancer requires knowledge of the imaging findings, which should then be incorporated into the most commonly used staging systems as well as the use of a common lexicon that is mutually understood and used by radiologists, oncologists, gastroenterologists and hepatopancreaticobiliary surgeons.

Cancer Imaging

It appears that reality, when its limitations and opportunities are mutually understood and acknowledged, is not only compatible with romance, but actually supportive and contributory to it.

HuffPost

Spoken Tibetan has developed a pattern of regional dialects and subdialects, which can be mutually understood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nevertheless, it can safely be stated that the degree of mutual intelligibility must have been much greater between the ancient languages than between the Middle Iranian languages and that those languages geographically closer to each other probably were mutually understood better than those spoken in areas farther apart.

Britannica

Feelings are mutually understood, often without anyone even having to resort to speech.

Vice

Those histopathological diagnostic criteria were commonly shared by surgeons and pathologists, and reasons for additional surgery recommendations were mutually understood by them.

BioMed Research International

We adopted the term "translation" from Agar because the languages of the clinicians and the information technology workers are different and the languages need to be mutually understood by individuals involved in CDS.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

If the question or answer was not clear, the interviewers repeated the question, or repeated their interpretation of the respondent's answer, to ensure that the message was mutually understood.

Human Resources for Health

We feel it is mutually beneficial.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is mutually understood" to convey a sense of shared knowledge or agreement without explicit discussion. This is particularly effective when describing established norms or implicit contracts.

Common error

Avoid using "it is mutually understood" too frequently, as it can sound repetitive or presumptuous. Vary your language by using alternative phrases such as "tacitly agreed upon" or "implicitly known" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is mutually understood" functions as a statement indicating a shared, often unspoken, agreement or understanding between parties. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of example sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is mutually understood" is a phrase used to express an agreement or understanding that is shared without being explicitly stated. Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not overly common, it finds use in diverse contexts ranging from news media and encyclopedias to science and academic writing. The phrase's function is to streamline communication, acknowledging a common ground and shared expectation. Related phrases include "tacitly agreed upon" and "implicitly agreed". When using the phrase, avoid overuse and consider explicitly stating the agreement to prevent misunderstandings. Remember that the goal of communication should be clarity, and relying solely on what is "mutually understood" can sometimes lead to ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's tacitly agreed upon

Emphasizes the unspoken nature of the agreement.

it's implicitly agreed

Highlights the implied nature of the agreement.

it's an unsaid agreement

Focuses on the lack of explicit communication.

it's a common understanding

Stresses the shared nature of the understanding.

everyone knows without being told

Highlights the intuitive nature of the knowledge.

it is an unspoken rule

Emphasizes the normative aspect of the understanding.

it's implicitly known

Focuses on the implied nature of the knowledge.

it's generally accepted without question

Highlights the unquestioned nature of the acceptance.

there's a silent agreement

Emphasizes the lack of expressed communication or approval.

everyone's on the same page

Indicates a state of shared understanding or agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "it is mutually understood" in a sentence?

You can use "it is mutually understood" to describe agreements or expectations that are not explicitly stated, such as, "Although we never discussed the specific timeline, "it is mutually understood" that the project will be completed by the end of the year."

What can I say instead of "it is mutually understood"?

You can use alternatives like "tacitly agreed upon", "implicitly agreed", or "common understanding" depending on the context.

Is it better to explicitly state an agreement or rely on "it is mutually understood"?

While ""it is mutually understood"" can be efficient, explicitly stating agreements minimizes potential misinterpretations. Reliance on unspoken understandings is best suited for situations with strong shared context and history.

What's the difference between "it is mutually understood" and "it is generally known"?

"It is generally known" implies widespread awareness, whereas ""it is mutually understood"" suggests a shared understanding within a specific group or between specific parties.