seldom understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is rarely comprehended or grasped by people. Example: "The complexities of quantum physics are often seldom understood by the general public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

So it goes among Europe's immigrants, often seen, seldom understood, elusive shadows on the landscape.

The New York Times

It has seldom understood Mr Kaminski's argument that international projects can save money, thus allowing more weapons to be developed and creating American jobs.

The Economist

Legendary, which is owned by Thomas Tull, is the kind of production company that makes Hollywood run but is seldom understood outside of the industry.

Forbes

The Brothertowns undertook such a project by forging solidarities that linked historically distinct groups and helped them negotiate the expectations and (mis perceptions of colonial neighbors, who seldom understood the full dynamics of this coalescent community.

Johns Hopkins University

"Margaritaville" reflected Parker and Stone's belief that most Americans view the economy in the same way as religion, in that it is seldom understood but seen as an important, elusive entity.

Wikipedia

To Egyptian audiences he offers a new type of movie, modern and urban, while to the rest of the world a blend of wonderfully written characters and slice-of-life poetic interpretations of today's land of chaos and humanity, so often watched on the news and yet so seldom understood.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Oxford University Press; 360 pages; $30 and £25HISTORIANS seldom understand popular journalism.

The Economist

Nonrunners seldom understand the life of these athletes, said Patrick Moulton, the newest member of the team.

The New York Times - Sports

Gabriel Josipovici on why even the most learned scholars can seldom understand Kafka.

The New Yorker

They seldom understand their function and are prone to meddle too much -- or, worse, not enough.

The New York Times

I laugh, I cry, I seldom understand things but it is… " Another: "I go 'round and round the mulberry bush.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seldom understood", ensure the context clearly indicates what is not being understood and why. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "seldom understood" when "rarely encountered" or "poorly researched" is more accurate. "Seldom understood" implies a failure in comprehension, not necessarily a lack of exposure or study.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom understood" functions as an adjectival phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase to describe something that is not commonly or easily comprehended. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seldom understood" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing concepts or subjects that are rarely comprehended. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. It appears most frequently in news and media, science and academia, suggesting its appropriateness across various contexts. While alternatives like "rarely grasped" or "poorly appreciated" exist, "seldom understood" effectively emphasizes the infrequency of comprehension. When employing this phrase, clarity and context are key to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely grasped

Focuses on the difficulty of understanding, highlighting the infrequency with which someone manages to properly grasp something.

infrequently comprehended

Emphasizes the lack of regular or frequent understanding.

not widely recognized

Shifts the focus to recognition rather than direct understanding, suggesting a lack of awareness or acknowledgement.

poorly appreciated

Highlights a lack of proper evaluation or recognition of value, which is related to understanding.

scarcely perceived

Emphasizes the rareness of perceiving or noticing something, implying a difficulty in understanding.

uncommonly apprehended

Focuses on the unusual nature of something being grasped or understood.

frequently misconstrued

Highlights that something is often wrongly understood.

not commonly known

Shifts the focus to the prevalence of knowledge rather than comprehension.

vaguely conceived

Focuses on the lack of clarity in the understanding or idea of something.

dimly realized

Emphasizes the lack of clarity or fullness in the understanding of something.

FAQs

How can I use "seldom understood" in a sentence?

You can use "seldom understood" to describe concepts, phenomena, or behaviors that are not easily grasped. For example, "The intricacies of quantum entanglement are "seldom understood" by those outside the field of physics."

What's a good alternative to "seldom understood"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "seldom understood" include "rarely grasped", "poorly appreciated", or "not widely recognized".

Is "seldom understood" grammatically correct?

Yes, "seldom understood" is grammatically correct. "Seldom" is an adverb modifying the past participle "understood".

What is the difference between "seldom understood" and "poorly understood"?

"Seldom understood" indicates that something is rarely comprehended, while "poorly understood" suggests that the comprehension is of low quality or incomplete. While closely related, "poorly understood" emphasizes the quality of understanding, and "seldom understood" focuses on the frequency of comprehension.