my understanding was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my understanding was" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that one previously believed about a particular situation, usually before gaining new information or insight. For example, "My understanding was that the project was due on Friday, but my supervisor said it was due today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

According to Hubbard, "my understanding was that Monolith owned the IP and Fox owned the title of the first game, which was technically The Operative: No One Lives Forever.

Wikipedia

"My understanding was we were importing legally.

Independent

COMEY: My understanding was that he would go as well.

The Washington Post

"My understanding was that absolutely no one was interested.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"My understanding was that a deal like this could have been reached back in November".

The New York Times

"My understanding was that you rank them, from one to ten," the banker persisted.

The New Yorker

"My understanding was Marion True was it, they weren't going to do this anymore," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

"Because my understanding was it was always fair and no intimidation.

The New York Times

"My understanding was that he had the media with him at all times".

The New York Times

My understanding was that an illegal immigrant commits a crime by being present in this country..

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

My understanding is about $400 a day".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "my understanding was" to introduce a discrepancy between what you previously thought and what has been recently clarified. This approach is polite and professional as it acknowledges your own perspective without necessarily accusing others of being misleading.

Common error

Avoid using "my understanding was" when you are describing a fact that you still believe to be true and current. In such cases, use "my understanding is". Using the past tense 'was' signals to the reader that this belief has likely changed or is being challenged.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my understanding was" acts as an introductory clause that establishes the speaker's subjective prior knowledge. According to Ludwig AI, it is often followed by a 'that' clause to explain the specific content of that knowledge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "my understanding was" is a highly effective linguistic tool for managing information flow and correcting misunderstandings. Ludwig AI data confirms its prevalence in top-tier journalism and academic research, where it is used to frame past beliefs with nuance and professional courtesy. It is grammatically correct and serves as a vital bridge between past assumptions and present facts. Whether used in a legal deposition, a scientific paper or a workplace email, it remains a reliable choice for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was my understanding that

Adds a formal introductory 'it' for a more objective tone.

I was under the impression that

Commonly implies that the belief was eventually proven wrong or incomplete.

I believed that

A more direct and slightly more personal way to state a past conviction.

as I understood it

Places the emphasis on the process of comprehension or interpretation.

my assumption was

Specifically denotes that the belief was based on an assumption rather than confirmed fact.

I gathered that

Suggests that the knowledge was inferred from various pieces of information.

I thought that

A simpler and more informal alternative for general use.

my perception was

Focuses on the subjective viewpoint or how the situation appeared at the time.

my interpretation was

Implies that the understanding resulted from a specific analysis of data.

it seemed to me that

Softens the statement by focusing on external appearances.

FAQs

How do I use "my understanding was" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a prior belief, such as in the sentence: "My understanding was that the meeting started at noon, but I see now it was at ten."

What is a more formal way to say "my understanding was"?

A slightly more formal alternative is "it was my understanding that", which is frequently used in legal and business correspondence.

Can I say "I was under the impression" instead?

Yes, "I was under the impression" is a very common and natural synonym, often used when the previous belief was incorrect.

Is "my understanding was" correct in academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in academic contexts to describe a previous hypothesis or a specific interpretation of a text, as seen in examples from sources like "Princeton University".