primary understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primary understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the fundamental or most important comprehension of a subject or concept. Example: "Her primary understanding of the topic allowed her to explain it clearly to others."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"He had a primary understanding of peoples that we may not have had.

The New Yorker

But the Chinese public's primary understanding of the term is no longer so benign.

The New York Times - Magazine

This study provides a primary understanding of the relationship between landscape variables and ecosystem services for insect pest management in Chinese small farming systems.

Biological Control

We then design a spatial correlation coefficient matrix for multivariate spatial correlation, which is the ratio of the cross variogram of two types of hazards to the product of the variograms of the two hazards, showing a primary understanding of the degrees of spatial correlation among the twelve types hazards.

Science of The Total Environment

While he may not be a lifelong coder, Chopra has previously stated that his "primary understanding is from customer need, not bits and bytes".

TechCrunch

Then an eSchoolbag training was provided to make sure that every student had a primary understanding of how the eSchoolbag looks like and how it could affect English learning.

Smart Learning Environments

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

To assess primary caregiver understanding of the term epilepsy.

The Journal of Pediatrics

But you never wavered from your primary goal: understanding the skills students needed to thrive in college and graduate with a plan to succeed in our new economy, and arming them with the tools to get them there.

Huffington Post

KU, DG and AG then held a structured meeting during which the primary (participant understanding) and secondary (researcher interpretation) themes from the individual studies were presented, and common categories across these themes were identified.

BMC Health Services Research

For a good guide on understanding primary sources, see our article on finding primary source documents.

WikiHow

"Everybody would say that his books were very primary to our understanding of our culture as well as examining and understanding of our current political manifestation," said Mr. Bassey.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primary understanding", ensure it's clear what specific subject or concept the understanding refers to. This adds clarity and context to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "primary understanding" when the context implies a more advanced or nuanced comprehension. Ensure the term accurately reflects the depth of knowledge being described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary understanding" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "primary" modifies the noun "understanding". It identifies a foundational or initial level of comprehension, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "primary understanding" is a valid and useful phrase for describing a foundational level of comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not overly common, it appears across various contexts, including science, news, and academia. When using this phrase, be sure the context indicates the level of knowledge being discussed. Consider alternatives like "basic grasp" or "initial comprehension" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basic grasp

Focuses on the fundamental level of comprehension.

initial comprehension

Emphasizes the starting point of understanding.

foundational knowledge

Highlights the role of understanding as a base for further learning.

core insight

Suggests a deep, essential understanding.

key awareness

Focuses on recognizing essential elements.

elementary perception

Highlights a simple, uncomplicated understanding.

principal insight

Emphasizes the most important understanding.

fundamental appreciation

Focuses on recognizing the value or importance of something.

preliminary knowledge

Indicates an early stage of understanding, before deeper exploration.

underlying concept

Focuses on the basic idea or principle.

FAQs

How can I use "primary understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "primary understanding" to describe a basic or initial comprehension of a topic, such as, "Students need a "primary understanding" of mathematics before advancing to calculus".

What's the difference between "primary understanding" and "fundamental understanding"?

"Primary understanding" often refers to the initial or most basic level of comprehension, while "fundamental understanding" suggests a deeper, more essential grasp of core principles.

What can I say instead of "primary understanding"?

Alternatives include "basic grasp", "initial comprehension", or "foundational knowledge", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "primary understanding" or "basic understanding"?

Both "primary understanding" and "basic understanding" are correct, but "primary" emphasizes the initial or foundational aspect of the understanding. The best choice depends on the specific context.