somewhat understandable

USAGE SUMMARY

"somewhat understandable" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to express that something is partially clear or makes sense, but not entirely. An example: "The instructions were somewhat understandable, but I still had questions." Alternative expressions include "partially clear" and "fairly comprehensible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

"And that's somewhat understandable.

The New York Times

This assumption, though outdated, is somewhat understandable.

The New York Times

It's somewhat understandable with TV, where the barriers to entry are so high.

The Economist

It's somewhat understandable that the first lady wasn't pleased with "The ­Obamas".

The New York Times - Books

His stance is somewhat understandable, given the calamitous state of the Knicks.

The New York Times - Sports

In this environment, the rage against Obama for not doing more, now, faster, becomes at least somewhat understandable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

One in particular, and this circles us back to Mr. Williams' dilemma, stands out as somewhat less understandable than the rest.

Huffington Post

Too bad the somewhat high, but understandable, $895 price didn't change.

TechCrunch

The status of Hirono is somewhat ambiguous but understandable in that Hirono is located more closely to the FNPP than other localities examined here and thus was more contaminated by high-energy radionuclides [ 2].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Voters are rightly concerned about unfettered and illegal immigration, and there has been some understandable if somewhat belated criticism of "multiculturalism".

The Guardian - Opinion

Across the board, the survey showed a strong correlation between frequency of travel and higher reports of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal distress, skin disorders and back pain -- all understandable, if somewhat surprising, consequences of heavy travel to a wide variety of places.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "somewhat understandable", consider adding context to clarify why something is only partially understandable. This enhances clarity and provides additional insight for the reader.

Common error

Avoid relying on "somewhat understandable" as a generic qualifier. If possible, delve deeper into why something isn't fully clear and provide specific reasons or limitations to strengthen your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat understandable" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is partially or to a certain extent comprehensible. It qualifies the degree to which something can be understood, as demonstrated in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat understandable" is a versatile adjective phrase used to express partial comprehension or justification. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it's grammatically correct, very common, and suitable for a wide range of contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While authoritative sources frequently employ it, it's crucial to use it judiciously and provide context to enhance clarity. Related phrases include "partly comprehensible" and "partially justifiable". Remember to avoid overusing the phrase and delve deeper into the reasons behind the partial understanding. Ludwig's examples and the related FAQs provide further guidance on its usage and alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partly comprehensible

Replaces 'understandable' with 'comprehensible' and 'somewhat' with 'partly', focusing on the ease of understanding.

somewhat justifiable

Similar to 'partially justifiable', but retains the 'somewhat' modifier, keeping the emphasis on justification.

understandable in part

Inverts the structure while retaining the core meaning of partial understandability.

partially justifiable

Shifts the focus to justification rather than understanding, suggesting a reason for something being acceptable to a degree.

understandable to a degree

Explicitly states the limited extent of understanding.

reasonably intelligible

Substitutes 'understandable' with 'intelligible', implying a level of clarity that allows for understanding.

moderately clear

Emphasizes clarity rather than understanding, suggesting a level of transparency that is not complete.

partly explainable

Focuses on the ability to explain something, implying that some aspects are understandable while others are not.

explicable to some degree

Focuses on explaining something instead of directly understanding it, while limiting the extent.

to some extent logical

Highlights the logical aspect, suggesting that there's a degree of reasoning that makes sense.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat understandable" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat understandable" to describe actions, decisions, or situations that make partial sense given the circumstances. For instance, "His reluctance to invest in the risky venture is "somewhat understandable" given the current economic climate."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat understandable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "partially explainable", "partly comprehensible", or "to some extent logical". Each emphasizes a slightly different aspect of partial understanding or justification.

Is it better to say "somewhat understandable" or "completely understandable"?

The choice depends on the degree of understanding you want to convey. "Completely understandable" implies full comprehension, while "somewhat understandable" suggests partial or limited comprehension. Use "somewhat understandable" when acknowledging complexity or uncertainty.

What's the difference between "somewhat understandable" and "somewhat justifiable"?

"Somewhat understandable" implies that something makes partial sense, while "somewhat justifiable" suggests that there are some reasons to support or excuse an action or decision. The former focuses on comprehension, the latter on moral or legal grounds. You can check alternative phrases like "partially justifiable" to enhance your sentences.