lower understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lower understanding of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone's comprehension or grasp of a subject is not as high as it could be. Example: "The study revealed that there is a lower understanding of the topic among younger students compared to their older peers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

With respect to understanding evolution, African Americans exhibited a significantly lower understanding of evolution (Table 6) than European Americans (p = 0.05).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

African Americans, in particular, showed higher religiosity and lower understanding of evolution compared with Hispanic/Latino(a) participants, pointing to the need to address these factors within African American communities specifically.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

School professionals have lesser knowledge of the violence and lower understanding of their role in child protection referral producers.

Unicef

However, it has been established that current smokers have a lower understanding of other risks including macular degeneration, cataracts and oral diseases compared with non-smokers.

BMJ Open

However, children and parents with low socio-economic background or migration background could not be represented adequately in the Baden-Württemberg Study itself because of lower rate of informed consent or lower understanding of the questionnaires.

BMC Public Health

The perception that mosquitoes are a nuisance may explain why women were more likely to use bednets, coils and repellents even though they had lower understanding of malaria transmission.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Among those URM students choosing careers in STEM fields, those pursing medicine and non-biological fields such as chemistry and physics exhibited more misconceptions, and those pursing medicine specifically showed lower overall understanding of evolutionary processes.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Virulence of these strains is reasonably expected to be lower, but understanding of clinical and epidemiological implications of this event is still very limited recovery of ST398 from three human cases of infections, two of whom with a negative history of contact with livestock, adds a further element of concern.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

The dose in the renal study was lower because understanding of the safety, PK, and pharmacodynamics of edivoxetine at the time the renal study was conducted was not as extensive relative to when the hepatic study was conducted; as a result, a conservative renal study design was implemented.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Did you hear that he didn't really write those plays?" In an age where sound bites dominate, the simplified yet misguided message of "Anonymous" may very well prove more memorable than actual historical facts, dangerously and irresponsibly lowering public understanding of an important cultural issue.

The New York Times

BEETLE-II was pitched at a basic, lower-level understanding of circuits, such as open and closed circuits, voltage, and using voltage to find a circuit fault.

International Journal of STEM Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lower understanding of", specify the subject or concept that is not well understood to provide context and clarity. For instance, "lower understanding of evolutionary biology" is more informative than simply "lower understanding."

Common error

Avoid using "lower understanding of" without specifying what is not understood. An unspecified statement can be vague and unhelpful. Instead, clearly identify the area where understanding is lacking for better communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower understanding of" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the quality or state of someone's comprehension regarding a particular subject. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lower understanding of" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a reduced level of comprehension or knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most frequently used in scientific and academic contexts, but also appears in news and business writing. When using the phrase, it is important to specify the topic to which the understanding is lower. Alternatives include "limited grasp of" or "poor comprehension of", providing writers with flexibility in expressing this concept. While common, it isn't overly frequent, suggesting it should be used thoughtfully to maintain clarity and impact. In summary, while "lower understanding of" is a reliable expression, ensure context and specificity for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited grasp of

Emphasizes the restricted nature of comprehension.

poor comprehension of

Highlights the inadequacy of understanding.

deficient knowledge of

Focuses on the lack of information or awareness.

inadequate awareness of

Stresses the insufficient recognition or perception.

shallow insight into

Suggests a superficial level of understanding.

rudimentary appreciation of

Indicates a basic or initial level of understanding.

basic familiarity with

Implies a minimal level of knowledge.

restricted perception of

Emphasizes limited view or interpretation.

imperfect command of

Highlights incomplete mastery or skill in understanding.

faint notion of

Suggests a vague or unclear understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "lower understanding of" to describe a lack of comprehension about a specific topic. For example, "Students showed a "lower understanding of" the scientific method compared to previous cohorts."

What are some alternatives to saying "lower understanding of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "limited grasp of", "poor comprehension of", or "deficient knowledge of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. You could say they have a "poor comprehension of" the material.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lower understanding of"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a reduced level of comprehension or knowledge. It is acceptable in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "lower understanding of" and "lack of understanding of"?

"Lower understanding of" implies a partial or incomplete comprehension, while "lack of understanding of" suggests a complete absence of comprehension. The former is a matter of degree, while the latter is absolute. You might say there's a "lack of understanding of" the intricacies of the matter.