narrowly understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrowly understood" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something is only understood in a limited or specific way, and may not have a broader or more complete understanding. Example: The new policy was narrowly understood by most employees, causing confusion and frustration among the staff.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But much of the new work moves beyond incentives, narrowly understood.

The New York Times

Institutional economics, as the term is narrowly understood, refers to a movement in American economic thought associated with such names as Thorstein Veblen, Wesley C. Mitchell, and John R. Commons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Altogether, the concept of value co-creation seemed to be rather narrowly understood.

European Journal of Futures Research

In this approach, the designer's task is limited to artifacts narrowly understood.

Automation in Construction

The global village is often narrowly understood as a global world where distance has lost its importance.

European Journal of Futures Research

NJT is governed by whatever reasons correctly apply to the case, not reasons of which the agent is aware, or which serve his self-interest narrowly understood.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

One advantage to defining "reasoning" capaciously, as here, is that it helps one recognize that the processes whereby we come to be concretely aware of moral issues are integral to moral reasoning as it might more narrowly be understood.

SEP

Common to the second, third and fourth features of public health is the question of how broadly or narrowly to understand what public health entails (Powers & Faden 2006).

SEP

Timberg and Halperin's broader concern is that the West's response to the AIDS epidemic reflects a paternalist mind-set that stems from the colonial past: "Where once there were conquerors and the conquered, now the relationship too often is understood narrowly, in terms of saviors and the saved".

The New York Times - Books

Affective Empathy: More narrowly and properly understood, empathy in the affective sense is the vicarious sharing of an affect.

SEP

If experiences are understood narrowly as being limited to the sensory part, then they are not assessable for accuracy; and if they are understood broadly as having both a sensory part and a judgmental part, then it is only the latter that is assessable for accuracy.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "narrowly understood", ensure the context clarifies what the broader or more complete understanding might be. This adds depth and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming the reader inherently understands the broader context when using "narrowly understood". Always provide sufficient context to clarify the intended meaning, lest the reader infers the wrong assumption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrowly understood" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun or concept to indicate that its interpretation or comprehension is limited in scope or perspective. It implies that a more comprehensive or nuanced understanding is possible or desirable. Ludwig AI confirms that "narrowly understood" is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrowly understood" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a limited or restricted understanding of a concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase across various contexts. While primarily found in scientific and news-related domains, its analytical nature suggests a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it is important to provide adequate context to clarify the intended meaning. Alternatives include "specifically defined" or "limited in scope", depending on the desired nuance. The key is to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specifically defined

Focuses on the definition being limited, rather than the understanding.

limited in scope

Emphasizes the restricted range or extent of something.

restrictively interpreted

Highlights the act of interpreting in a limited way.

particularly construed

Stresses a specific way of building up or creating something.

specially clarified

Highlights the act of clarifying the meaning.

in a limited sense

Indicates that the understanding is confined to a particular context or meaning.

with limited insight

Focuses on the lack of deeper knowledge or comprehension.

deficiently grasped

Emphasizes the lack of full understanding or comprehension.

inadequately apprehended

Highlights the incomplete or insufficient grasp of something.

superficially appreciated

Focuses on a lack of deep understanding.

FAQs

What does "narrowly understood" mean?

The phrase "narrowly understood" indicates that something is understood in a limited, specific, or restricted way. It suggests a lack of a broader or more complete understanding.

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

You can use "narrowly understood" to describe a concept, definition, or interpretation that is limited in scope. For example, "The term 'sustainability' is often "defined very narrowly"." This demonstrates that the user's understanding of it might be incomplete.

What are some alternatives to "narrowly understood"?

Alternatives to "narrowly understood" include "specifically defined", "limited in scope", or "restrictively interpreted". The best alternative will depend on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to be "narrowly understood" or broadly understood?

Whether a narrow or broad understanding is preferable depends on the context. Sometimes, a narrow understanding is necessary for precision, but other times, a broader perspective is more appropriate for a comprehensive grasp of the subject.