not fully understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not fully understood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to explain that something has not been completely understood or comprehended. For example: "The meaning of the metaphor was not fully understood by the class."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its cause is not fully understood.

Harvard University

organs whose response is not fully understood.

University of California, Berkeley

The condition is not fully understood.

The Guardian

However, its mechanisms are not fully understood.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

We don't know yet, because it's not fully understood.

Princeton University

At present this behaviour is not fully understood.

Combustion and Flame

The human sense of smell is still not fully understood.

The Guardian - Books

However, the mechanism of MCMB sintering is not fully understood.

Carbon

The dimensions of the Pakistani buildup are not fully understood.

The New York Times

This, too, was not fully understood at the time.

The New York Times

However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not fully understood", ensure the context clearly indicates what aspect lacks complete comprehension. Providing specifics enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "not fully understood" when sufficient information exists. Instead, acknowledge what is known before highlighting the remaining uncertainties. This shows intellectual honesty and strengthens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not fully understood" functions as a qualifier, indicating a limitation in knowledge or comprehension. It modifies a subject, specifying that while some understanding exists, it is incomplete. Ludwig provides examples of how this phrase is used across various disciplines.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

24%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not fully understood" is a common and grammatically sound way to express incomplete knowledge. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, commonly appearing in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, aim for clarity by specifying what aspect lacks complete understanding. While alternatives like "not perfectly understood" or "remains unclear" exist, the core meaning remains consistent: acknowledging the limits of current knowledge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not perfectly understood

Replaces "fully" with "perfectly", suggesting a higher degree of understanding is lacking.

not completely understood

Substitutes "fully" with "completely", emphasizing the absence of complete understanding.

not entirely understood

Uses "entirely" instead of "fully", conveying a similar meaning of incompleteness.

not thoroughly understood

Replaces "fully" with "thoroughly", focusing on the depth of understanding.

remains unclear

Shifts the focus to the lack of clarity rather than the degree of understanding.

poorly understood

Emphasizes the low level of understanding.

not well understood

Uses "well" instead of "fully", indicating a general lack of understanding.

not definitively known

Focuses on the lack of definitive knowledge about the subject.

lacks complete understanding

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the absence of complete understanding.

the details are still hazy

Uses a more figurative expression to convey a lack of clear understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "not fully understood" in a sentence?

You can use "not fully understood" to indicate that something lacks complete comprehension. For example, "The long-term effects of the medication are "not fully understood"".

What's a more formal alternative to "not fully understood"?

A more formal alternative could be "not perfectly understood" or "remains unclear", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "not fully understood" or "poorly understood"?

The choice depends on the degree of understanding. "Poorly understood" suggests a very limited understanding, while ""not fully understood"" implies some understanding exists, but it's incomplete.

What does it mean when something is "not fully understood"?

When something is ""not fully understood"", it means that there are gaps in our knowledge or comprehension of it. Further research or investigation is usually needed to gain a more complete understanding.