partially understandable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partially understandable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not fully clear or comprehensible but has some degree of clarity. Example: "The instructions were partially understandable, but I still had some questions about the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The falloff in support for the peace process is partially understandable.

The New York Times

But the missed tackles that allowed Garreth Carvell, Richie Mathers, Michael Monaghan and Chris Bridge to score were at least partially understandable given the exuberance of Warrington's approach play.

The Guardian - Sport

Can express a main point or make a brief statement when prompted, in a way that is partially understandable.

Language Testing in Asia

This may be partially understandable, however.

Biology Direct

This bias is partially understandable given the epidemiology of injecting drug use, which is predominantly engaged in by men, and a relatively efficient route of HIV transmission.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But he noted that this effort was partially fuelled by a "genuine and understandable desire" to improve standards for children from an ethnic minority group that had long been poorly served by education in the city.

The Guardian

For a direct virus-mediated pathologic process, this hypothesis may be understandable, given the lower prevalence of preexisting (and therefore potentially partially protective) cross-reactive immunity for this novel virus (8 – 10 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Totally understandable.

The New York Times

Perfectly understandable.

The New York Times - Sports

Only partially.

Independent

And partially.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "partially understandable" when you want to convey that something is not entirely clear but can be grasped to some degree. This is useful when addressing complex topics or nuanced situations where complete understanding might not be possible or expected.

Common error

Avoid using "partially understandable" when something is almost completely incomprehensible. Instead, consider phrases like "difficult to understand" or "largely unclear" to more accurately reflect the level of confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partially understandable" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun to indicate the extent to which something can be understood. According to Ludwig, this suggests that while some comprehension is possible, there are aspects that remain unclear or confusing. It highlights a state of incomplete understanding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "partially understandable" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that is not completely clear but possesses some degree of comprehensibility. Ludwig’s analysis reveals it is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. While "partially understandable" may not be as prevalent as other phrases, it serves a valuable purpose in acknowledging nuanced understanding. Alternatives like "somewhat comprehensible" and "not entirely clear" can be used depending on the desired nuance. As stated by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English, it is important to avoid using it when something is almost completely incomprehensible to maintain accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat comprehensible

This alternative uses a synonym for "understandable" and maintains the same level of partial clarity.

partly comprehensible

This alternative directly replaces "understandable" with "comprehensible", keeping the partial understanding aspect.

partially comprehensible

Synonymous replacement of 'understandable'.

partly intelligible

This alternative replaces "understandable" with "intelligible", conveying a similar sense of being understood to some extent.

not fully clear

This alternative emphasizes the lack of complete clarity, suggesting that some aspects remain unclear.

not entirely understandable

This phrase directly negates complete understanding, highlighting the partial nature of comprehensibility.

imperfectly understood

This alternative focuses on the understanding itself being flawed or incomplete.

vaguely comprehensible

This suggestion implies a less precise or clear level of understanding.

kind of understandable

This alternative is a more informal way of expressing partial understanding.

moderately clear

This alternative focuses on the level of clarity rather than understanding, suggesting that it is reasonably but not perfectly clear.

FAQs

How can I use "partially understandable" in a sentence?

You can use "partially understandable" to describe explanations, instructions, or situations that are not entirely clear but still make some sense. For instance, "The instructions were "partially understandable", so I had to ask for clarification".

What are some alternatives to saying "partially understandable"?

Alternatives include "somewhat comprehensible", "not entirely clear", or "partly intelligible". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "partially understandable" the same as "understandable"?

No, "partially understandable" implies that something is not fully clear or comprehensible, whereas "understandable" suggests complete clarity and comprehension. Using "partially" indicates a degree of ambiguity or incompleteness.

When is it appropriate to use "partially understandable" versus "completely understandable"?

Use "partially understandable" when you want to acknowledge that some aspects of a topic may still be confusing or require further explanation. Use "completely understandable" when something is straightforward and easy to grasp without any ambiguity.