make oneself understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make oneself understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the ability to communicate clearly so that others can comprehend your message. Example: "In order to succeed in this international meeting, it's essential to make oneself understood, regardless of language barriers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

By using Hausa and Songhai, one may make oneself understood from one end of the country to the other.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Twentieth-century avant-garde theatre had a strong anti-theatrical bias, the idea being that to care about the people in the audience to want to entertain them or even to make oneself understood by them was a forfeiture of artistic status, a lowering of one's sights.

The New Yorker

A definition that includes and assumes intellectual disability, which is connected to an inability to make oneself understood, low IQ, problematic behaviors and social impairment.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The MDS-CPS score is calculated using five MDS items: comatose, short-term memory, cognitive skills or daily decision making, making oneself understood, and self-performance in eating.

BMC Geriatrics

The scores vary from 0 to 6 and the scale consists of 5 items from the interRAI HC instrument: skills for daily decision-making, making oneself understood, short-term memory recall, procedural memory and eating impairment.

BMC Public Health

The CPS includes 5 items, addressing cognitive and communication aspects (short-term memory, decision making and making oneself understood), presence of coma and eating dependency.

BMC Health Services Research

Accessibility has become a matter of there being no charge, not a matter of making oneself widely understood.

The Guardian

Even so, people generally make themselves understood.

The New York Times

And I could not make myself understood.

University of California, Berkeley

"Why?" The man was unable to make himself understood.

The New York Times

And yet people can generally make themselves understood right away.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use plain language and avoid jargon when you want to "make yourself understood" by a broad audience. This is especially important when communicating complex information.

Common error

Avoid using overly complex sentence structures when trying to "make oneself understood". Shorter, simpler sentences are often more effective in conveying your message clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make oneself understood" functions as an infinitive phrase, often serving as part of a larger verb phrase. As seen in Ludwig, it describes the ability or effort to communicate effectively so that others comprehend the intended message.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make oneself understood" is a grammatically correct and versatile infinitive phrase used to describe the act of communicating clearly and effectively. As confirmed by Ludwig, it highlights the speaker's effort to ensure their message is accurately received. While appearing across various contexts like news, science and wiki articles, it maintains a neutral register. To enhance clarity in your writing, consider using simpler sentence structures and being mindful of your audience. Alternative phrases such as "communicate effectively" or "express oneself clearly" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be easily understood

Shifts the focus to the ease with which someone is understood.

get one's point across

Focuses on successfully communicating a specific point or idea.

express oneself clearly

Highlights the clarity of expression from the speaker's perspective.

convey one's message

Emphasizes the transmission of a message successfully.

communicate effectively

Focuses on the broader act of communicating well, not specifically on being understood.

present information understandably

Focuses on how information is presented to ensure understanding.

articulate clearly

Refers to the manner of speaking, emphasizing clarity and precision.

ensure comprehension

Highlights the act of ensuring that the listener understands.

transmit information effectively

Focuses on the effective transmission of information.

avoid ambiguity

Highlights the importance of clear and unambiguous communication.

FAQs

What does it mean to "make oneself understood"?

To "make oneself understood" means to communicate in a way that your message is clear, comprehensible, and accurately received by others.

How can I improve my ability to "make myself understood"?

Focus on clear articulation, using simple language, and being mindful of your audience. Consider the receiver's perspective to anticipate potential misunderstandings.

What are some alternatives to "make oneself understood"?

You can use alternatives like "communicate effectively", "express oneself clearly", or "get one's point across" depending on the context.

Is "making oneself understood" always necessary in communication?

While clarity is generally desirable, there may be situations where ambiguity is intentional, such as in poetry or diplomacy. However, in most practical contexts, striving to "make oneself understood" is crucial for effective communication.