preceding the understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preceding the understanding of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing concepts, ideas, or events that come before or lead to a particular understanding or interpretation. Example: "The research conducted in the early 20th century was crucial, preceding the understanding of modern psychological theories."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has been argued that this skill precedes the understanding of probability [ 69] although even children with the capacity to reason using probabilities have been found to prefer to use magnitude judgements to solve probability tasks [ 70].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Such a scene alerts us to a difficulty of life in postwar Bangladesh in an unexpected and intimate way: we experience the discovery as a child's rite of passage, made persuasive by familiar signs (the child's awareness of difference preceding his understanding of it, the confidential chat with his aunt that gives him an adult's "serious walk").

The New York Times - Books

The DUC is meant to improve the understanding of the processes preceding treatment initiation.

BMC Psychiatry

The preceding experiments yield understanding of the comparative behaviour of exploratory and confirmatory approaches to period estimation as a function of the degree of periodicity in the underlying sequence.

Biology Direct

The identification of compositional changes in the interdigital matrix preceding the onset of cell death may be relevant for understanding the regulation of this degenerative process.

Cell Death and Disease

Knock-out models can help also in understanding the pathophysiology of the diseases preceding the onset of organ failure, such as atherosclerosis [ 90].

Heart Failure Reviews

Results suggest that resources play an important role in the understanding of how chronic stress is preceded and may lead to exhaustion in both genders.

BMC Public Health

On the morning preceding the announcement of the next iPhone?

TechCrunch

Mid 20th century developments preceded the 1960 1980s' improved understanding of suffering and movement toward effective remediation introduced by Dr. Hilde Bruch.

Current Psychiatry Reports

Commercial availability of tests may precede adequate understanding of how to use test results, given the complexity of autism's genetics.

Wikipedia

Children's understanding of names for objects and people usually precedes their understanding of words that describe actions and relationships.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preceding the understanding of", ensure the sentence clearly establishes the temporal or logical sequence. It should be evident what comes before and what understanding it leads to.

Common error

Avoid using "preceding the understanding of" if the subject of the understanding is unclear or ambiguous. Ensure the noun or concept that requires understanding is explicitly stated for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding the understanding of" functions as a prepositional modifier, indicating a temporal relationship where something occurs before a state of comprehension is reached. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "preceding the understanding of" serves to denote a temporal or logical sequence where something occurs before comprehension. As supported by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is most commonly found in scientific and academic contexts, which call for precision in establishing sequences. While alternatives like "before understanding" exist, "preceding the understanding of" adds a more formal tone. Therefore, when using "preceding the understanding of", ensure that you clarify the elements involved in the temporal or logical sequence and maintain consistency with the tone of your piece.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before understanding

Shorter and more direct, omitting the definite article.

prior to comprehending

Uses a more formal verb, "comprehending", instead of "understanding".

leading up to the comprehension of

Emphasizes the process that guides the way to understanding something.

antecedent to understanding

Replaces "preceding" with "antecedent", a more formal term indicating something that comes before.

preliminary to understanding

Highlights the preparatory nature of what comes before the understanding.

pre-understanding phase

Focuses on the phase occurring before comprehension.

in advance of understanding

Replaces "preceding" with "in advance of", indicating a temporal priority.

precursor to understanding

Uses "precursor" to describe something that comes before and indicates the arrival of a subsequent event or state.

pre-cognitive stage

Emphasizes the cognitive aspect of understanding and denotes the phase before cognitive awareness.

laying the groundwork for understanding

Highlights the preparation or foundation that is established before achieving understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "preceding the understanding of" in a sentence?

Use "preceding the understanding of" to indicate that something happens or exists before comprehension is achieved. For example, "Data collection "preceding the understanding of" patterns is crucial for accurate analysis".

What are some alternatives to "preceding the understanding of"?

Alternatives include "before understanding", "prior to comprehending", or "leading up to the comprehension of". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey. You can use alternatives like "before understanding", "prior to comprehending", or "leading up to the comprehension of".

Is it better to say "before understanding" or "preceding the understanding of"?

"Before understanding" is more concise and often preferred in informal contexts. "Preceding the understanding of" adds a layer of formality and is suitable for academic or technical writing.

What is the difference between "following the understanding of" and "preceding the understanding of"?

"Following the understanding of" indicates what comes after comprehension, while "preceding the understanding of" indicates what comes before. They are antonyms describing opposite temporal relationships.