prone to misunderstanding

USAGE SUMMARY

"prone to misunderstanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that something is likely to be misunderstood or misinterpreted. For example, "His comments were worded in such a way that they were prone to misunderstanding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

And consensus protocols, of the kind that power Bitcoin, have historically been prone to misunderstanding.

MIT Technology Review

Discussing a fantasy was easier — less emotional, less explosive, less prone to misunderstanding — than discussing what was happening before my eyes.

The New Yorker

And so one of the results of that is that our responses become less and less clear, more and more prone to misunderstanding, and also liable to create more problems than they solve.

Harvard Business Review

Text messaging is often prone to misunderstanding because it's hard to convey your mental or emotional state; that's where emoticons came from.

TechCrunch

"We weren't very pleased to have to take responsibility for that, but in the end it was probably better than them giving out something more prone to misunderstanding".

Science Magazine

21 The physician might consider using postponement measures to communicate the benefit to the patients, instead of the NNT or relative risk reductions, which are so prone to misunderstanding.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Long-distance talks are prone to misunderstandings and also lack the rapport and warmth of face-to-face talks.

Harvard University

Young Socrates in the Statesman is particularly prone to misunderstandings and mistakes.

SEP

Competitor DoesThatMakeSense.com offers on-demand study assistance, but I see its "upload you question, bid on a nerd to answer, wait for a response" as clunky and prone to misunderstandings since there's no live connection between tutors and students.

TechCrunch

Although interpreters are increasingly used in health care, most communication between health professionals and patients takes place without such assistance and is, therefore, prone to misunderstandings and is limited in its potential for deeper discussion and more extensive explanations using general language.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

But some of these seemingly precious facts merely show that the encyclopedia — which, as old as it is, was compiled fifteen centuries after Sappho lived — could be prone to comic misunderstandings.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, clarify statements that might be "prone to misunderstanding" by providing additional context or examples.

Common error

Avoid assuming your message is inherently clear. Even well-articulated ideas can be "prone to misunderstanding" if the audience lacks necessary background knowledge or shares different cultural assumptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prone to misunderstanding" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a tendency or susceptibility towards being misunderstood. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prone to misunderstanding" correctly describes a state of being likely to be misinterpreted. Ludwig AI confirms this. It appears most often in News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating its usefulness in scenarios requiring precision and clarity. To ensure effective communication, be mindful of potential ambiguities when using phrases like "prone to misunderstanding" and provide ample context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

easily misinterpreted

Focuses on the ease with which something can be misinterpreted.

susceptible to misinterpretation

Highlights the vulnerability of something to being wrongly interpreted.

open to misconstruction

Emphasizes the possibility of a wrong interpretation being placed on something.

liable to be misunderstood

Indicates a probability of being misunderstood.

inviting misinterpretation

Suggests that something almost encourages misinterpretation.

tending toward confusion

Focuses on the inherent tendency to cause confusion.

ambiguous and unclear

Highlights the lack of clarity that leads to misunderstanding.

difficult to grasp

Emphasizes the challenge in understanding something correctly.

subject to confusion

Highlights the liability of something to get people confused.

vulnerable to misinterpretation

Stresses the weakness of something with respect to being misinterpreted.

FAQs

How can I use "prone to misunderstanding" in a sentence?

You can use "prone to misunderstanding" to describe something that is likely to be misinterpreted. For example: "Text messages are often "prone to misunderstanding" because they lack tone of voice."

What does "prone to misunderstanding" mean?

"Prone to misunderstanding" means something is likely or susceptible to being misinterpreted or not understood correctly. It indicates a higher-than-normal chance of confusion or misinterpretation.

What are some synonyms for "prone to misunderstanding"?

Synonyms for "prone to misunderstanding" include "easily misinterpreted", "susceptible to misinterpretation", and "liable to be misunderstood". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I avoid my message being "prone to misunderstanding"?

To avoid your message being "prone to misunderstanding", use clear and concise language, provide sufficient context, and consider your audience's background and perspective. Visual aids and examples can also help clarify complex ideas.