mutually understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mutually understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two or more parties have a shared comprehension or agreement about something. Example: "After our discussion, it was clear that the terms of the contract were mutually understood by both parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"Nothing was spoken, it was just mutually understood".

The Guardian - Books

It's mutually understood, for example, that everybody goes home at night.

The New Yorker

The mutually understood evasion, "Let's have lunch," often morphed into "Let's really have lunch".

The New York Times

Applicants and examiners employed a mutually understood pretense that machinery was still involved.

The New York Times - Magazine

Spoken Tibetan has developed a pattern of regional dialects and subdialects, which can be mutually understood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All but one of the characters appear to be engaging in, and submitting to, bizarre rituals that derive from some mutually understood criminal code or religious system.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Friends, after all, are supposed to mutually help each other, mutually understand each other.

The New York Times

Municipalities and their partners require a supporting information infrastructure that supports a broad range of urban stakeholders to mutually understand and reinforce geophysical communities within urban neighbourhoods and localities (Doheny-Farina 1996).

Visualization in Engineering

When your team is 3-7, why NOT make play calls like that?! I'm glad we mutually understand what it takes to win games.

Huffington Post

This design of current social media platforms is making people less keen to have conversations that mutually understand each other, and more keen to broadcast opinions that mainly appeal to those who agree with them.

Huffington Post

Furthermore, many participants mentioned their male partner not feeling this conflicted regardless of which partner was responsible for the infertility issue, which lead to their inability to mutually understand the psychological burden.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mutually understood" when you want to emphasize that an agreement or understanding exists without needing explicit communication. It adds a layer of sophistication to your writing.

Common error

While "mutually understood" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or legal documents where explicit statements are preferred to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mutually understood" is that of a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It typically modifies a noun to indicate a shared comprehension or agreement between parties. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's deemed grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mutually understood" serves as a powerful descriptor for agreements and understandings that don't require explicit communication. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general usability. While quite versatile, as our analysis shows, "mutually understood" appears most frequently in News & Media, Scientific, and Encyclopedia contexts. Consider alternatives like "tacitly agreed" or "shared understanding" for nuanced expression. Steer clear of overuse in strictly formal documents where clarity is paramount. By recognizing its function, purpose, and typical contexts, you can harness the phrase "mutually understood" to add sophistication and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Shared understanding

Focuses on the common knowledge or awareness.

Implicitly understood

Stresses that the understanding is not directly expressed.

In mutual agreement

Highlights the fact that the understanding is shared.

Tacitly agreed

Focuses on an unspoken but clear agreement.

By agreement

Highlights the fact that there is an understanding between two parties, regardless of whether it is spoken.

Commonly agreed upon

Emphasizes a formal agreement or consensus.

Jointly acknowledged

Highlights a shared recognition or acceptance.

By common consent

Indicates agreement from all parties involved.

Collectively recognised

Emphasizes a shared recognition by a group.

Universally accepted

Implies a broad agreement without explicit communication.

FAQs

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

You can use "mutually understood" to describe agreements or expectations that are clear without needing explicit communication. For example: "It was "mutually understood" that we would arrive on time."

What is a good alternative to "mutually understood"?

Alternatives include "shared understanding", "tacitly agreed", or "implicitly understood", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "mutually understood" or "commonly understood"?

"Mutually understood" implies an agreement or understanding between two or more specific parties. "Commonly understood" suggests a general awareness or knowledge among a larger group or population. Choose the phrase that best reflects the scope of the understanding.

What does it mean when something is "mutually understood"?

When something is "mutually understood", it means that all parties involved have a clear and shared comprehension of the matter, often without the need for explicit explanation or detailed discussion. This implies a level of implicit agreement or shared knowledge.