out of understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of understanding" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be used in contexts where someone is expressing a lack of comprehension or insight about a situation. Example: "His actions were completely out of understanding for me, leaving me confused about his intentions."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Having said that, I get satisfaction out of understanding what I'm going through, which I can only achieve by describing it with an almost externalised dispassion.

Independent

If the Folger Library added it to its extraordinary total, it would be examined by the handful of academics who make a career out of understanding the many tiny differences between the various copies of this book.

The Guardian

"I made a wonderful career out of understanding the cultures of Latin America and the culture of the United States and how to do business in both," said Ms. Kollman-Moore, a naturalized American.

The New York Times

After all, Macklowe has never shown much of an interest in Manhattan's suburban markets, but he has made a healthy (if bumpy) career out of understanding how to unlock value from buildings that others have left dormant.

Forbes

Apparently, a great deal of merriment can be derived out of understanding exactly what a joke means.

Huffington Post

"President Zuma is not responding out of the goodness of his heart or out of understanding the importance of respecting the.... recommendations of the public protector," Ndlozi said. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Ironically, competitive reviews are not, even though the cost of missing out on understanding the competitive environment can be enormous.

Harvard Business Review

They might experience a conceptual blindness to the nature of contingency or they might be “talked out of” understanding the principle because of its controversial implications (e.g., the existence of a necessary being).

SEP

He urged local, state and federal agencies to work out a memorandum of understanding to clarify lines of jurisdiction before another outbreak.

The New York Times

Several studies have been carried out for the purpose of understanding cellulase-substrate interactions [ 21- 28].

Biotechnology for Biofuels

That pledge clashes with the Memorandum of Understanding worked out between the two presidential campaigns.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of understanding" when you specifically want to emphasize that a particular feeling or action arises from a lack of understanding, rather than simply stating the lack itself.

Common error

Avoid using "out of understanding" in highly formal writing. Simpler phrases often sound more professional and less awkward. "Due to a lack of understanding" or "owing to incomprehension" might be preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of understanding" functions as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a verb or noun to indicate the reason or cause behind an action or state. Ludwig provides examples where it describes the motivation or origin of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of understanding" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that something results from a lack of comprehension. While grammatically correct, it's less common and can sometimes sound awkward, as noted by Ludwig AI. More direct alternatives like "lacking comprehension" or "due to a lack of understanding" are often preferred, especially in formal writing. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, suggesting a neutral register. When using "out of understanding", emphasize the causal relationship between the lack of understanding and the resulting action or state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking comprehension

Focuses directly on the absence of understanding.

due to incomprehension

Emphasizes that the cause is a failure to understand.

resulting from a lack of understanding

Highlights the consequence of not understanding.

born of misunderstanding

Implies that something arose from an incorrect understanding.

stemming from a failure to grasp

Indicates that a problem or issue originated because of not grasping something.

motivated by ignorance

Suggests actions are driven by a lack of knowledge.

driven by unawareness

Suggests actions are influenced by a lack of awareness.

beyond my understanding

Indicates something is impossible to comprehend.

I cannot understand

Simple statement of inability to comprehend.

in the absence of comprehension

Formally states that understanding is not present.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "out of understanding" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "lacking comprehension", "due to a lack of understanding", or "because of incomprehension" for a more natural flow.

Is "out of understanding" grammatically incorrect?

No, "out of understanding" is not grammatically incorrect, but it's less common and can sound awkward. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase might not convey a clear meaning and recommends alternatives like "beyond comprehension" or "lacking insight".

What's a good alternative to "out of understanding" in a formal context?

In a formal context, phrases like "due to a lack of understanding" or "owing to incomprehension" are better choices.

When is it appropriate to use "out of understanding"?

Use "out of understanding" when you want to emphasize that an emotion or action stems directly from a lack of comprehension. For example, "He acted that way "out of understanding" of the situation."