reasonable grasp of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonable grasp of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's adequate understanding or knowledge of a subject or skill. Example: "She has a reasonable grasp of the fundamental concepts in physics, which helps her excel in her studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A reasonable grasp of certain aspects of the law is also essential when it comes to renting a property.

The Guardian - Money

He named these people "ideologues," by which he meant not that they are fanatics but that they have a reasonable grasp of "what goes with what" — of how a set of opinions adds up to a coherent political philosophy.

The New Yorker

Maimon does seem to have had a genuine appreciation for Mendelssohn, both because of his kindheartedness and because, unlike most others of the circles of the Jewish Enlightenment, Mendelssohn had a reasonable grasp of the Talmud and rabbinic literature.

SEP

In this initial study, it was found that even in a sample of well-educated museum-going adults, not one visitor invoked the evolutionary reasoning pattern for all seven organisms, and overall, just over a third of the sample (38%) demonstrated a reasonable grasp of evolutionary concepts.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Table 4 suggests that approximately 50% of physicians have a reasonable grasp of critical appraisal concepts and know how to interpret research results; half of them can calculate an NNT and sensitivity and specificity and know what they mean.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Here's a modest proposal: what if the government took it on board to promote a reasonable, sane grasp of risk, security, and probability?

The Guardian - Tech

The next day, he interviewed a deputy mayor of Malmö, who appeared to have a reasonable grasp on the relevant crime statistics and a plausible explanation for the city's recent spike in murders.

The New Yorker

Although carrying out ChIP-seq analyses on in vivo material seems beyond the scope of current technology for the mammary epithelial field, RNA-seq or microarray on purified populations of in vivo material still seems within the grasp of what can be reasonable to request.

eLife

Until then they could be career civil servants whose grasp of numbers might be limited to a reasonable GCSE in Maths.

Independent

Limits: To provide a good mapping of the adaptive landscape at this level, one either needs a thorough mechanistic understanding of the corresponding fitness correlates or a firm grasp of a general theory that allows for reasonable predictions in the presence of many poorly known interactions.

BMC Systems Biology

Although reviewer 2's suggested rescue experiment and the need to repeat the Ago experiments in a more appropriate cell type could be excluded if the authors are able to address the above 3 key points, the other specific points seem within the authors' grasp of what could be carried out in a reasonable length of time.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "reasonable grasp of" to denote a level of understanding that is practical and functional rather than expert or comprehensive.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonable grasp of" when describing someone with advanced expertise. This phrase is best suited for indicating a foundational or intermediate level of understanding, not mastery.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonable grasp of" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the extent or quality of someone's understanding or knowledge. Ludwig shows that it is used to indicate a sufficient, but not necessarily expert, level of comprehension.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reasonable grasp of" signifies an adequate level of understanding or knowledge. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. While not extremely common, it appears in news, scientific, and general writing. Consider using alternative phrases like "solid understanding of" or "good command of" depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Avoid using it when describing someone with expert-level knowledge. This phrase is a useful tool for indicating a functional and practical level of comprehension without implying mastery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solid understanding of

Replaces "grasp" with "understanding" and "reasonable" with "solid", emphasizing a firm comprehension.

good command of

Substitutes "grasp" with "command", suggesting a skillful handling or control of the subject matter.

adequate knowledge of

Replaces "grasp" with "knowledge", focusing on the possession of information, and "reasonable" with "adequate", indicating a sufficient level.

competent understanding of

Replaces "reasonable" with "competent", suggesting a satisfactory skill level in understanding.

fair understanding of

Substitutes "reasonable" with "fair", indicating an average or acceptable level of comprehension.

working knowledge of

Suggests a practical level of understanding sufficient for performing tasks.

basic familiarity with

Implies a superficial understanding, more introductory than comprehensive.

functional understanding of

Suggests understanding focused on practical application rather than theoretical depth.

decent handle on

Uses more informal language to indicate an adequate level of understanding.

sufficient awareness of

Focuses on being conscious and informed about a topic, rather than in-depth knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "reasonable grasp of" in a sentence?

You can use "reasonable grasp of" to describe someone's understanding of a subject. For example, "She has a reasonable grasp of the fundamental concepts in physics, which helps her excel in her studies."

What are some alternatives to "reasonable grasp of"?

You can use alternatives like "solid understanding of", "good command of", or "adequate knowledge of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "reasonable grasp of" or "good grasp of"?

"Reasonable grasp of" implies a sufficient or acceptable level of understanding, while "good grasp of" suggests a higher level of proficiency. The choice depends on the specific level of understanding you want to convey.

What's the difference between "reasonable grasp of" and "basic understanding of"?

"Reasonable grasp of" suggests a more functional and applicable understanding than "basic understanding of". While both indicate a non-expert level, "reasonable grasp" implies more competence.