outside our comprehension

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outside our comprehension" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that is difficult or impossible for people to understand or grasp. Example: "The vastness of the universe is often considered to be outside our comprehension, leaving many questions unanswered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Gingrich made one of his classic outrageous overreaches last year when he praised a Dinesh D'Souza article in Forbes, saying you could only understand how "fundamentally out of touch" and "outside our comprehension" President Obama is "if you understand Kenyan, anticolonial behavior".

The New York Times

He told National Review Online that it offered "stunning insight" into Obama: "What if [Obama] is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you begin to piece together [his actions]?" Gingrich asks.

The New Yorker

He was quoted by the conservative Web site as saying: "What if [Obama] is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anticolonial behavior, can you begin to piece together [his actions]?

The New York Times

Newt told The National Review Online that it was the "most profound insight I have read in the last six years about Barack Obama" and said D'Souza shows that the president "is so outside our comprehension" that you can only understand him "if you understand Kenyan, anticolonial behavior".

The New York Times

And what about Newt Gingrich, who's blatant racist comments about President Obama last month were shocking let alone moronic: "What if Obama is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you begin to piece together his actions?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's beyond our comprehension".

The New York Times

Drop by drop, our comprehension grows.

The New Yorker

"His enduring survival is beyond our comprehension.

The Guardian

That is a scale of disaster beyond our comprehension.

The Guardian

It is the incremental step propelling our comprehension of events.

The New York Times

"It goes beyond our comprehension to understand the killing of six million Jews," Mr. Demnig said.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outside our comprehension" when you want to emphasize that something is truly difficult or impossible for people in general to understand, not just a personal lack of understanding. This often applies to abstract concepts or phenomena.

Common error

Avoid using "outside our comprehension" when a simpler explanation or further investigation might reveal the answer. It's better to say something is 'not yet understood' if there's a possibility of future understanding, rather than implying it's inherently beyond human capability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outside our comprehension" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It describes something as being beyond the ability of humans to understand or grasp fully. It implies a limit to human intellect or understanding, as exemplified by the contexts provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outside our comprehension" is a way to express that something is beyond human understanding. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct, though relatively rare. Its primary function is to describe something as exceeding the boundaries of what can be understood, often relating to complex or abstract subjects found in news, scientific discussions, and formal contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to be precise and avoid overstating the unknowable, and choose the alternative phrasing, if available, in order to better suit your needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond our understanding

Replaces 'comprehension' with 'understanding', a more common synonym, making the phrase slightly more accessible.

beyond our grasp

Uses 'grasp' to emphasize the difficulty in seizing or understanding something intellectually.

unfathomable to us

Replaces the whole phrase with a direct statement of something being impossible to fathom or understand.

incomprehensible to us

Uses 'incomprehensible', a more formal synonym, to describe something that cannot be understood.

beyond the scope of our knowledge

Emphasizes that the subject is not within the limits of what is known.

eludes our understanding

Uses 'eludes' to suggest that the understanding is actively avoiding or escaping our grasp.

transcends our cognitive abilities

Highlights that the matter goes beyond the limits of our cognitive capacity.

baffles our intellect

Suggests the subject is confusing and perplexing to our intellect.

defies our understanding

Indicates that the subject actively resists or challenges our ability to understand it.

is beyond human ken

Uses the archaic word 'ken' (meaning understanding) to give the phrase a more literary or philosophical tone.

FAQs

What does "outside our comprehension" mean?

The phrase "outside our comprehension" describes something that is impossible or extremely difficult for people to understand or grasp fully. It suggests that the subject is beyond the limits of human understanding.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "outside our comprehension"?

Use "outside our comprehension" when referring to concepts or phenomena that are genuinely challenging to understand, such as the vastness of the universe or complex philosophical ideas. Make sure that it's not just a matter of needing more information or a simpler explanation.

What can I say instead of "outside our comprehension"?

You can use alternatives like "beyond our understanding", "unfathomable to us", or "incomprehensible to us" depending on the context.

Is "outside our comprehension" the same as "beyond our knowledge"?

While related, "outside our comprehension" implies a fundamental inability to understand, whereas "beyond our knowledge" simply means that we currently lack information or understanding. The latter suggests that understanding may be possible in the future, while the former implies a more inherent limitation.