much to our understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much to our understanding" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used when expressing that something aligns with or enhances one's understanding of a topic or situation. Example: "The recent findings were much to our understanding of the complex dynamics at play in climate change."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Admittedly, the new documents do not add much to our understanding of the science.

The Guardian - Books

However, a growing number of unusually well-preserved fossil birds are contributing much to our understanding of bird evolution.

University of California, Berkeley

Inter-regional comparative analysis of microlithic industries is rare, but can contribute much to our understanding of technological systems in the past.

Quaternary International

Paul Polani, who has died aged 92, was a paediatrician, geneticist and research professor at Guy's Hospital Medical School in London, whose work added much to our understanding of cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities and developments in prenatal diagnosis.

The Guardian

While he acknowledges shortcomings of the research in his field, and is respectful of Ioannidis's criticism, he says nutrition researchers have brought much to our understanding of a healthful diet and can address the problems.

The Washington Post

While Darwinism has contributed much to our understanding of the living world, it has not given us an adequate account of why organisms are the way they are and how they came to be that way.

Advances in Child Development and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

But rarely do such events tell the whole story or add much to our overall understanding of why the voters behaved a certain way.

BBC

The careful collection of additional patient data will add much to our current understanding of DS.

Human Molecular Genetics

These studies contributed much to our current understanding of kinase activities in different systems.

Cell Communication and Signaling

The last decade has brought much change to our understanding of scleractinian relationships, but much still needs to be done.

Plosone

Hinchingbrooke has much to contribute to our understanding of how to improve the NHS but, like Salford and mid Yorkshire, it will yield its lessons only if the debate moves on from making dubious use of flimsy evidence to make a general case one way or the other.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the active role of researchers, specify who gains or enhances the understanding; for instance, "The study significantly enhances researchers' understanding."

Common error

Avoid overuse in formal writing. The phrase "much to our understanding" can sound stilted or unnatural. Opt for more direct and impactful alternatives to communicate more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much to our understanding" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase isn't very common and can sound awkward. It indicates the extent to which something aligns with or contributes to our comprehension.

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, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "much to our understanding" isn't considered the strongest or most common way to express that something contributes to comprehension. Ludwig AI highlights that it may sound awkward. More impactful and direct alternatives like "significantly enhances our understanding" or "greatly contributes to our understanding" are often preferred, especially in formal or professional contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in science, news, and academic sources, but careful consideration should be given to using stronger alternatives for improved clarity and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly enhances our understanding

This alternative strengthens the impact and emphasizes the enhancement.

greatly contributes to our understanding

This alternative emphasizes the significant contribution being made.

considerably improves our understanding

This alternative emphasizes the degree of improvement in understanding.

broadens our comprehension

This alternative focuses on expanding the scope of knowledge.

deepens our insight into

This alternative focuses on gaining a more profound insight.

enriches our knowledge of

This alternative suggests adding depth and value to existing knowledge.

advances our grasp of

This alternative focuses on making progress in understanding a concept.

furthers our awareness of

This alternative highlights increasing awareness.

expands our perspective on

This alternative focuses on widening one's viewpoint.

aids in our appreciation of

This alternative highlights improved recognition of the importance.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "much to our understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly enhances our understanding", "greatly contributes to our understanding", or "considerably improves our understanding" depending on the context.

Is "much to our understanding" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "much to our understanding" can sound awkward. It's grammatically acceptable but often a less impactful phrasing than alternatives.

How can I use "much to our understanding" in a sentence?

Use it to suggest that something aligns with or enhances one's understanding, although consider if stronger alternatives would be more appropriate. For example, "The new data was greatly contributes to our understanding of climate change."

Why is "much to our understanding" considered less ideal than other similar phrases?

The phrase isn't as direct or impactful as alternatives. Phrases like "significantly enhances our understanding" or "greatly contributes to our understanding" often convey the same meaning with more clarity and emphasis.