less understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"less understanding" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a decrease in how much someone understands something or someone. For example: As the lecture went on, the students had less understanding of the material.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Maybe if I didn't work out, didn't understand that athletic culture, I would be less tolerant and less understanding.

The New York Times - Sports

Lundqvist seemed less understanding.

The New York Times - Sports

Some doctors were less understanding.

The New York Times - Health

There's less and less understanding.

The New Yorker

Others were less understanding.

The New York Times

Some officials have been less understanding.

The New York Times

Others have been less understanding.

The New York Times - Sports

They're less understanding, it seems, of his outlandish clobber.

Independent

We have less understanding and compassion for other people.

The New York Times - Arts

Other Democrats in Colorado who were targets of the campaign were less understanding.

The New York Times

They may also have less understanding of client services, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "reduced comprehension" or "diminished awareness" for variety and to more precisely convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "less understanding" when the context requires a complete lack of understanding. In such cases, "no understanding" or "misunderstanding" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less understanding" typically functions as a quantifier modifying a noun, indicating a reduced degree of comprehension or empathy. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples on Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less understanding" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing a reduced degree of comprehension, empathy, or awareness. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. As demonstrated by the numerous examples on Ludwig, this phrase is commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While alternatives like "reduced comprehension" or "diminished awareness" may offer greater precision in certain situations, "less understanding" provides a versatile and widely understood means of conveying a decrease in understanding. Be mindful of the context to ensure you're accurately reflecting the level of comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced comprehension

Focuses specifically on the intellectual aspect of understanding, implying a decrease in the ability to grasp information.

poor comprehension

Indicates a low level of understanding, often used in educational or testing contexts.

limited grasp

Focuses on the extent of understanding, suggesting an incomplete or partial comprehension.

decreased insight

Emphasizes a reduction in the depth of understanding, suggesting a more superficial or incomplete grasp.

diminished awareness

Highlights a lack of consciousness or recognition of something, shifting the focus from intellectual grasp to general perception.

less perceptive

Highlights a reduced ability to notice or understand subtle details or nuances.

less knowledgeable

Directly addresses a lack of information or expertise, rather than a reduced capacity to understand.

lower appreciation

Shifts the focus to a lack of valuing or recognizing the importance of something, rather than a lack of cognitive understanding.

narrower perspective

Implies a limited viewpoint, which can lead to a reduced understanding of a broader issue.

reduced empathy

Emphasizes a decrease in the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, rather than cognitive understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "less understanding" to indicate a reduced level of comprehension or empathy. For example, "As the topic became more complex, the audience showed "less understanding"".

What phrases are similar to "less understanding"?

Similar phrases include "reduced comprehension", "diminished awareness", or "decreased insight", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "fewer understanding" instead of "less understanding"?

No, "fewer" is used with countable nouns, while "less" is used with uncountable nouns. "Understanding" is generally treated as an uncountable noun in this context, so "less understanding" is the correct phrase.

What's the difference between "less understanding" and "misunderstanding"?

"Less understanding" implies a reduced level of comprehension, while "misunderstanding" suggests a complete failure to understand something correctly. "Less understanding" is a matter of degree; "misunderstanding" indicates a complete error.