maintain an understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain an understanding" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to continue or keep up a level of comprehension or knowledge about something. Example: In order to effectively manage a project, it is important to maintain an understanding of the project's goals, timeline, and budget.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

ETH Zurich's mission in education is to equip its students with the highest level of knowledge and skills; the ability to feel at ease and act in complex and rapidly evolving environments, while at the same time being able to maintain an understanding for ethical and cultural values.

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

This enabled the discriminator to maintain an understanding of the differences between styles of art.

TechCrunch

The Immuta platform helps companies maintain an understanding of how digital assets are applied and shared across a company.

TechCrunch

The Immuta platform helps companies maintain an understanding of how digital assets are applied and shared across a company.

TechCrunch

Students possess the cognitive schemata to compartmentalize knowledge that does not fit their worldview, and maintain an understanding of that knowledge in long-term memory.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Although the regulations and processes related to these products differ, most regulatory professionals develop and maintain an understanding of the regulatory aspects of these areas.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

John Casimir of the Palatinate, the Calvinist champion of Protestantism in France and the Low Countries, maintained an understanding with the neighbouring princes of Lorraine, who led the ultra-Catholic Holy League in France.

Britannica

Impacted by these texts, physicians of Chinese medicine selectively adopted certain aspects of Western science into their understanding of qi, yet maintained an understanding of qi as something that went beyond air.

University of California, Berkeley

The Ringling Bros. of the 21st Century is on par with the shifts made possible by technology, yet it maintains an understanding of its audience.

Huffington Post

Reviewing understandings of rights, Yamin notes that human rights language has largely maintained an understanding of human beings as autonomous individuals, without fully appreciating how social relations constitute structures of choices within which people perceive, evaluate and act [ 16].

BMC International Health and Human Rights

As models are mechanistic, extrapolations can be conducted by modifying system-specific parameters toward the organism or age group of interest while maintaining an understanding that drug-specific parameters remain constant.

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain an understanding", clearly specify the subject or area of knowledge to which the understanding refers. This provides context and avoids ambiguity. For example, "maintain an understanding of market trends" is more effective than simply "maintain an understanding".

Common error

Avoid using "maintain an understanding" when the situation involves actively learning new information or adapting to changing circumstances. Instead, opt for phrases like "develop an understanding" or "gain insight" to more accurately reflect the process of knowledge acquisition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain an understanding" functions as a verbal phrase, typically acting as part of a clause's predicate. It describes the action of continuing to possess or uphold a level of comprehension or knowledge. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain an understanding" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of retaining or upholding comprehension in a certain subject. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and while it's not the most common phrase, it appears in various contexts such as science, news, and academia. To enhance clarity, specifying the object of understanding is recommended. Alternative phrases include "retain a grasp" or "keep abreast of". Avoiding its use when describing new comprehension is crucial, opting instead for "develop an understanding". Overall, understanding its proper use and context allows for more effective and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retain a grasp

Focuses on keeping a firm hold of knowledge; implies a strong initial understanding.

keep abreast of

Emphasizes staying updated with current information; suitable when knowledge evolves.

preserve comprehension

Highlights the act of keeping one's comprehension intact.

sustain awareness

Focuses on continuing to be conscious or informed about something.

cultivate knowledge

Suggests actively developing and nurturing one's understanding.

foster insight

Implies encouraging and developing a deeper, more intuitive comprehension.

uphold perception

Highlights maintaining a specific viewpoint or way of interpreting something.

hold onto insights

Emphasizes retaining valuable or key pieces of understanding.

stay informed about

Focuses on remaining updated and knowledgeable on a particular topic.

ensure familiarity with

Highlights making certain that a level of knowledge or acquaintance is kept.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain an understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain an understanding" to describe keeping up-to-date knowledge on a particular topic. For example, "It is important to "maintain an understanding" of current events to be an informed citizen."

What's the difference between "develop an understanding" and "maintain an understanding"?

"Develop an understanding" implies gaining knowledge or comprehension for the first time, while ""maintain an understanding"" suggests keeping existing knowledge current and relevant.

What can I say instead of "maintain an understanding"?

Alternatives to ""maintain an understanding"" include "retain a grasp", "keep abreast of", or "sustain awareness", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "maintain to understand"?

No, "maintain to understand" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is ""maintain an understanding"", where "understanding" functions as a noun.