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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
poorly understandable
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "poorly understandable" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult to comprehend or unclear in meaning. Example: "The instructions were poorly understandable, leading to confusion among the team members."
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(20)
vague
barely clear
scarcely comprehensible
unclear
almost understandable
not easily understood
ambiguous
murky
barely intelligible
hard to understand
incomprehensible
hardly intelligible
opaque
barely understandable
nearly understandable
poorly legible
barely conceivable
difficult to comprehend
almost incomprehensible
hard to comprehend
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
The last criterion for poor understandability was the report by patients that the question was poorly understandable.
The legend of Figure 1 is poorly understandable.
Science
However, the evolutionary patterns of both isofoms and the function of scd5 are poorly understandable.
Second, concordant questions that were obviously incorrect or contradictorily answered by the patients were suspected of being poorly understandable.
The questions that were marked by the patients as poorly understandable were the same as those with a high percentage of answers omitted.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
He has pitched so poorly that it's understandable to wonder if, despite a career 181-109 record in his 15th major league season, he will ever again be the dependable big-game pitcher that the Yankees relied on so often in the playoffs and the World Series.
News & Media
Although the temptation of offering a quick fix is understandable, rushing into poorly understood or poorly implemented solutions might prove equally harmful.
Science
See: http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v8/n6/full/nmeth.1618.html Figure 4 is poorly presented, and the axes are not understandable.
Science
Figure 4 is poorly presented, and the axes are not understandable.
Science
Because there were at least five different court orders issued at different times, following a vague and poorly-worded executive order, the confusion was understandable.
News & Media
It is clearly challenging to make the studies understandable to lay people and such poorly defined details confuse both researchers and the participants.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing something as "poorly understandable", consider whether a more precise term like "ambiguous" or "vague" might be more appropriate for your context to enhance clarity and precision.
Common error
Avoid using "poorly understandable" when a simpler word like "unclear" or "difficult to understand" conveys the meaning more effectively. Overusing "poorly" can make your writing sound awkward or unnatural.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
3.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "poorly understandable" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the quality of something—instructions, explanations, or concepts—as being difficult to comprehend. As Ludwig AI describes, this indicates a lack of clarity.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
40%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "poorly understandable" is used to describe something that lacks clarity and is difficult to comprehend. While grammatically acceptable, it's not the most common or preferred phrasing; alternatives like "difficult to understand" are often more effective. Ludwig AI highlights that this phrase may sound awkward, and suggests "hard to understand" or "difficult to comprehend" as alternatives. Analysis of Ludwig examples indicates that it appears in both scientific and news contexts, but its overall frequency is rare, suggesting that writers may prefer more direct and precise language. Therefore, consider context and choose more precise alternatives for clarity.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
difficult to understand
Replaces "poorly" with "difficult", emphasizing the challenge in understanding.
hard to comprehend
Uses "hard" and "comprehend" to highlight the effort required for understanding.
not easily understood
Emphasizes the lack of ease in understanding something.
unclear
A simpler term indicating a lack of clarity.
vague and confusing
Highlights both the lack of clarity and the resulting confusion.
ambiguous
Implies that something has multiple possible interpretations.
incomprehensible
Indicates a complete inability to understand.
opaque
Suggests that something is difficult to see through or understand metaphorically.
murky
Describes something as being unclear and difficult to make out.
lacks clarity
Focuses specifically on the absence of clarity.
FAQs
What does "poorly understandable" mean?
The phrase "poorly understandable" describes something that is difficult to comprehend or not easily understood. It suggests a lack of clarity or that the information is presented in a way that is hard to process.
How can I use "poorly understandable" in a sentence?
You can use "poorly understandable" to describe instructions, explanations, or concepts that are difficult to grasp. For example, "The instructions were "poorly understandable", leading to errors."
What are some alternatives to "poorly understandable"?
Alternatives include "difficult to understand", "hard to comprehend", "unclear", or "vague". The best choice depends on the specific context.
Is "poorly understandable" grammatically correct?
While grammatically acceptable, "poorly understandable" is not the most common or elegant phrasing. It's generally better to opt for alternatives like "difficult to understand" or "hard to comprehend" for clearer and more natural writing.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
3.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested