Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

poor understand

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor understand" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "poor understanding"? If this is the case, you can use it to describe a lack of comprehension or insight regarding a particular subject or situation. Example: "His poor understanding of the topic led to several mistakes in his report."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The poor understand this.

News & Media

The New Yorker

One of the things few people but the poor understand is that, when you're poor, life conspires to keep you that way.

The poor understand that commerce--selling handmade crafts or running a small shop--is the way to improve income levels.

News & Media

Forbes

The poor understand that commerce selling handmade crafts or running a small shop is the way to improve income levels.

News & Media

Forbes

India's rural poor understand that and they are willing to pay for power -- but it needs to actually reach them.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Diseases of poverty, like malnutrition, need medical sociologists and anthropologists – people who go into communities, live with the poor, understand them, and assist without imposing a Western model.

Formal & Business

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

She says the president cares about the poor, understands women, believes in equal opportunity and access to good schools.

News & Media

The Guardian

The exposure of the colonic mucosa at different luminal antigens, including different drugs, has been involved in the still poor understood pathophysiology of MC.

AS is a chronic inflammatory disease that has a poor understood etiology and pathogenesis of disease.

So when someone says the details matter when it comes to the idea of basic income and suggests the possibility that it could be regressive, and even increase inequality by taking money being targeted at the poor and giving it to the non-poor, understand that the details of the details matter even more than just the details.

News & Media

TechCrunch

"I'm not saying you've got to be poor to understand poor people," he said, "but I do believe that the legislature has to be well-shaped demographically, and you can't do that if we continue to put up the same people all the time for office".

News & Media

Huffington Post
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "poor understand" in formal writing. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "limited understanding" or "poor comprehension."

Common error

Ensure the verb form agrees with the subject. With "poor", use a noun like "understanding" rather than the verb "understand".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor understand" is grammatically incorrect. The correct grammatical form involves using 'poor' as an adjective to modify a noun, not a verb. This means expressing the idea as "poor understanding" or "limited comprehension" is more appropriate. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "poor understand" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this by stating that the phrase is not standard English. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "poor understanding" or "limited comprehension". These alternatives effectively convey the intended meaning of a lack of understanding or comprehension, maintaining clarity and grammatical accuracy. While the provided examples come from reputable sources, their usage of "poor understand" does not validate its correctness. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "poor understand"?

The correct way to express a lack of understanding is to use the phrase "poor understanding" or "limited understanding".

Is "poor understand" grammatically correct?

No, "poor understand" is grammatically incorrect. The adjective "poor" needs to be followed by a noun, such as "understanding" or "comprehension".

What can I say instead of "poor understand" to describe a lack of knowledge?

You can use phrases like "inadequate knowledge", "deficient knowledge", or "limited knowledge" to describe a lack of knowledge.

How does "poor understanding" differ from "misunderstanding"?

"Poor understanding" implies a general lack of comprehension, while "misunderstanding" suggests an incorrect interpretation of something.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: