perfectly understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perfectly understanding" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it combines an adverb with a participle in a way that does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I appreciate your perfectly understanding my situation, but I need more time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

You couldn't blame us for not perfectly understanding how new coaches, players and draft picks would affect teams.

The New York Times

"Hilary then rang to say he felt devastated but she also told me that I couldn't have said anything else and was perfectly understanding".

The Guardian

Perfectly understanding its target audience's infatuation with romantic tragedy, this plays its melodrama straight and faces its harsh realities fairly full on, even when mediated through the gauze of a Love Story-lite soft filter.

The Guardian - Film

But not necessarily in the right order" – the sketch can be watched again as an example of a writer perfectly understanding his performers and getting all the words in the right order.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Dizzy and nauseous, I try not to be tetchy with the nurses, who do their best, but I struggle with the shared ward, wanting my own space and getting annoyed when they open the curtains without asking, feeling guilty about occupying myself with my headphones although everyone else is perfectly understanding.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He particularly praised the ending of the episode, saying "there are few other TV writers that would come up with something as haunting and as perfectly understanding of the human condition as the final reveal of who the killer is".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Most Americans seem to be perfectly capable of understanding that deranged, isolated extremists do not act on behalf of the whole religion, just as most understand the difference between people who oppose abortion and people who attack abortion clinics.

The Economist

She was perfectly capable of understanding other things about Spencer.

The New York Times

And that he gave, understanding perfectly the role he was to play.

The New Yorker

Certainly these young men are not surprised, neither Israelis nor Palestinians, understanding perfectly well that nothing has been resolved between their peoples.

The New York Times

The point this scrambled paragraph makes – the point that all of these visual games leads me to – is that a normal functioning human is one that sails blithely past mistakes in a text while understanding perfectly what it means.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "perfectly understanding" appears in some publications, favor alternatives like "fully understanding" or "completely understanding" for greater clarity and grammatical correctness. Consider rewriting the sentence entirely for enhanced readability.

Common error

Avoid directly modifying the participle "understanding" with the adverb "perfectly". This can create ambiguity. Instead, use a stronger verb or restructure the sentence. Example: Instead of "perfectly understanding the concept", try "fully grasp the concept".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is used as a modifier describing the act of understanding. However, it's worth noting that Ludwig AI flags it as potentially incorrect, suggesting that more standard alternatives might be preferable for clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "perfectly understanding" aims to convey complete and thorough comprehension. However, according to Ludwig, its usage is questionable from a grammatical standpoint. While examples exist in diverse sources, including news outlets, wikis, and scientific publications, alternatives like "fully understanding" or "completely understanding" are recommended for enhanced clarity and grammatical correctness. When aiming for precision and clarity in your writing, opting for alternatives ensures your message is conveyed effectively and without ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully understanding

Replaces "perfectly" with "fully", offering a more grammatically standard adverb to modify "understanding".

completely understanding

Uses "completely" instead of "perfectly" for a more common and grammatically correct alternative.

thoroughly understanding

Substitute "perfectly" with "thoroughly" which means doing it carefully and completely.

entirely understanding

Replaces "perfectly" with "entirely", suggesting a complete grasp.

clearly understanding

Suggests a lucid and distinct comprehension, swapping "perfectly" for "clearly".

precisely understanding

Emphasizes the accuracy of understanding by using "precisely" instead of "perfectly".

accurately understanding

Focuses on the correctness of understanding by substituting "perfectly" with "accurately".

deeply understanding

This indicates the level of insight using "deeply" to replace "perfectly".

having a perfect understanding

Transforms the phrase into a more standard construction using "having a perfect understanding".

with perfect understanding

Presents the phrase as a prepositional phrase, altering the grammatical structure for clarity.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "perfectly understanding"?

Instead of "perfectly understanding", consider using phrases such as "fully understanding", "completely understanding", or "thoroughly understanding" for greater clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "perfectly understanding" grammatically correct?

While you might find "perfectly understanding" in some contexts, it is generally considered less grammatically sound than alternatives like "fully understanding" or "completely understanding". It's often better to rephrase for improved clarity.

How can I use "perfect understanding" correctly?

Instead of using "perfectly understanding" (adverb + participle), consider using the noun form: "perfect understanding". For example, "They have a perfect understanding of the situation" is grammatically sound.

What's the difference between "perfectly understanding" and "perfectly understood"?

"Perfectly understood" implies that something is comprehended without any doubts and completely. For example, "The rules are perfectly understood". On the other hand, "perfectly understanding" suggests the action of completely understanding something, but it's often better phrased as "fully understanding".