make understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"make understood" can be used in written English, and is generally used as a verb phrase.
For example: "The teacher was trying to make the difficult concept understood by all the students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This situation he couldn't make understood.

The New Yorker

Grammars (vyākaraṇas) concern the description of speech forms (śabda) considered to be correct (sādhu) through derivation and thereby serve to make understood the usage found in the Vedas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The CEA should take this popular response seriously: it's not a warning that their show is about to hit the wall, but rather a warning that they have failed to make understood what the show is about.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Even so, people generally make themselves understood.

The New York Times

And I could not make myself understood.

University of California, Berkeley

And yet people can generally make themselves understood right away.

The New Yorker

It was equally difficult to make myself understood.

The New Yorker

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

The New York Times

I make myself understood anyway.

Vice

Grammar helps us make ourselves understood".

Huffington Post

However angry you are, speak slowly and make yourself understood.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make understood", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is being understood. For example, "The teacher tried to "make understood" the importance of the lesson" is less clear than "The teacher tried to "make" the importance of the lesson "understood" by the students."

Common error

Avoid using "make understood" when a simpler verb like "explain" or "clarify" would be more direct and impactful. Overusing complex phrasing can sometimes obscure your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make understood" functions as a verb phrase, where 'make' acts as a causative verb, and 'understood' serves as a past participle adjective describing the state being brought about. It indicates the act of causing something to be comprehended. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

17%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make understood" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express the action of ensuring comprehension. While Ludwig AI identifies it as usable in written English, it's less common than simpler alternatives like "explain" or "clarify". It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. When using the phrase, pay attention to clarity and avoid wordiness. Consider alternatives like "convey clearly" or "articulate effectively" for potentially more direct communication. Pay attention to context and ensure clarity when utilizing the phrase."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convey clearly

Emphasizes the clarity of the communication.

articulate effectively

Focuses on the skill of expressing oneself.

communicate successfully

Highlights the success of the communication process.

express comprehensibly

Stresses the ease with which something can be understood.

get across

An informal way of saying to communicate successfully.

clarify

Focuses on making something clearer and easier to understand.

elucidate

Implies a more detailed and thorough explanation.

explain thoroughly

Emphasizes the depth and completeness of the explanation.

spell out

Means to explain something in a very clear and direct way, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

get through to

Indicates reaching someone with your message, often when it's difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "make understood" in a sentence?

You can use "make understood" when you want to express the act of causing something to be understood. For instance, "The speaker needed to "make" his point "understood" by the audience."

What are some alternatives to "make understood"?

Some alternatives to "make understood" include "convey clearly", "articulate effectively", or "communicate successfully", depending on the nuance you want to express.

Is it more formal to say "make understood" or "explain"?

"Explain" is generally more direct and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. "Make understood" can sound slightly more formal but may also be perceived as wordy in some situations.

Which is correct, "make understood" or "make understand"?

"Make understood" is the correct form. The past participle "understood" functions as an adjective describing what is being made (i.e., the message or idea).