lesser understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser understanding of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has a reduced or inferior level of comprehension about a particular subject or topic. Example: "His lesser understanding of the complex theories made it difficult for him to contribute to the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He continues: I'm afraid the key to a real comprehension of the individual does not lie in a greater or lesser understanding of the complexity of man as an object of scientific knowledge...

The New Yorker

No one with a lesser understanding of these matters could've crafted the masterstroke that was the "More Perfect Union" speech he delivered in the midst of the controversy over Jeremiah Wright.

The New Yorker

He continues: I'm afraid the key to a real comprehension of the individual does not lie in a greater or lesser understanding of the complexity of man as an object of scientific knowledge..

The New Yorker

This new breed of Republican has an inadequate understanding of the Constitution and an even lesser understanding of their constituents.

Huffington Post

"Not only does President Trump clearly have a lesser understanding of the world and its problems than his predecessor, he has presented no clear policy frameworks for the world to understand where he would like to go," Thomas Bernes, a career foreign service officer for Canada and a distinguished Fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation, told VICE News.

Vice

Older people may have also more difficult in the practice of physical exercises (i.e. in the Jacobson's progressive relaxation training) or, maybe, a lesser understanding of instructions.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The facilities and instruments used until now to grow crystals in space have primarily focused on growing crystals for post-flight analysis, and to a lesser extent on the understanding of phenomena associated with the crystallisation processes.

Journal of Crystal Growth

Otherwise stay away from such stories, most professors will be understanding of lesser circumstances.

WikiHow

This correlates well with the network diversity aspect as well as the understanding of having lesser inertia at the initial stages of the firm.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Previous studies on the influence of resin characteristics have focused on an experimental approach and to a lesser extent on the mechanistic understanding of the adsorption mechanism.

Journal of Chromatography A

As rapidly cycling intestinal stem cells become increasingly well characterised, the issues of dynamism and plasticity in stem cell compartments suggests that time and resources should also be directed towards the understanding of this lesser known but equally important intestinal stem cell population.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lesser understanding of", ensure the context clearly establishes a comparison. It's most effective when contrasting it with a greater or more complete understanding, or when indicating a deficiency in comprehension relative to a specific standard or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser understanding of" in situations where a complete lack of understanding is implied. If there's no understanding at all, it's more accurate to state "no understanding" or "lack of understanding" rather than implying a diminished level of comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser understanding of" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, typically to describe a reduced degree of knowledge or comprehension regarding a specific subject or concept. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser understanding of" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a reduced or incomplete comprehension of a particular subject. Ludwig confirms its validity, suggesting that its function is to highlight deficiencies in knowledge. While alternatives like "limited understanding of" or "poor understanding of" can be used, it's important to use the phrase judiciously and avoid implying a diminished understanding when there is a complete absence of it. The phrase appears mostly in News & Media and Science contexts, showing a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited understanding of

Indicates a restricted or incomplete comprehension.

poor understanding of

Suggests a deficient or inadequate grasp of the subject.

inadequate understanding of

Emphasizes the insufficiency of the comprehension.

weak understanding of

Highlights the fragility or instability of the comprehension.

superficial understanding of

Implies a lack of depth in the comprehension.

basic understanding of

Suggests a fundamental but not advanced level of comprehension.

rudimentary understanding of

Highlights the early or initial stage of comprehension.

imperfect understanding of

Indicates that the comprehension is flawed or incomplete.

partial understanding of

Signifies that only some aspects are comprehended.

incomplete understanding of

Emphasizes the unfinished or lacking nature of the comprehension.

FAQs

What does "lesser understanding of" mean?

The phrase "lesser understanding of" refers to a situation where someone has a reduced or incomplete level of comprehension or knowledge about a particular topic compared to someone else or a specific standard.

What are some alternatives to "lesser understanding of"?

You can use alternatives like "limited understanding of", "poor understanding of", or "inadequate understanding of" to express a similar meaning.

How can I use "lesser understanding of" in a sentence?

Example: "Due to his lesser understanding of the subject, he struggled to answer the complex questions." The phrase is often used to explain difficulties or shortcomings resulting from incomplete knowledge.

Is "lesser understanding of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "lesser understanding of" is grammatically correct. "Lesser" is used as an adjective modifying "understanding", indicating a smaller degree or extent of comprehension.