strive to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the goal of furthering knowledge or learning. For example, "We must strive to understand the complexities of the natural world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When you cease to strive to understand, then you will know, without understanding.

Huffington Post

Assessing and understanding governance in the health system is crucial as public officials, donors and researchers strive to understand how to improve the performance of health systems.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Strive to understand its conditions.

The Guardian - Opinion

He must strive to understand the other side's concerns.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I will always strive to understand, rather than find fault.

The Guardian - Money

We strive to understand every side of the story, and to convey it fairly.

The New Yorker

At some point, Mars changed dramatically and we should strive to understand why.

The Washington Post

We'll strive to understand from leading academics the frontiers of knowledge about organizational culture.

University of California, Berkeley

Do say: "We must strive to understand this noble creature, while keeping our wheelie bins shut tight".

The Guardian

Accordingly, occupational psychiatrists strive to understand the psychological impact of the workplace on an employee's emotional health.

Stanford University

As we strive to understand the world we live in, this foundation seems more critical than ever.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strive to understand", ensure it's followed by a specific subject or concept to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "We must strive to understand", specify "We must "strive to understand" the complexities of quantum physics".

Common error

Avoid using "strive to understand" when a simpler phrase like "try to understand" or "attempt to understand" would suffice. Overusing "strive to understand" can sound overly formal or pretentious in everyday conversation or writing. Choose words based on audience and purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to understand" functions primarily as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intent. It indicates a determined effort towards achieving comprehension. Ludwig confirms this, showcasing its use across diverse contexts from academic research to news reporting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

30%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strive to understand" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys a strong commitment to comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across a wide range of contexts, from academic research to news reporting, indicating its versatility and general acceptance. While semantically similar phrases like "endeavor to understand" and "seek to understand" can be used as alternatives, it's essential to consider the context and audience to avoid sounding overly formal. The phrase is versatile, yet purposeful, thus writers are encouraged to think if "try to understand" is good enough as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to understand

Replaces "strive" with "endeavor", maintaining a formal tone and the sense of effort.

seek to understand

Substitutes "strive" with "seek", implying a deliberate attempt to gain understanding.

aim to comprehend

Replaces "strive to understand" with "aim to comprehend", focusing on the goal of comprehension.

make an effort to understand

Emphasizes the effort involved in understanding, rather than the aspiration.

try to grasp

Uses a more informal verb, "grasp", to convey understanding, slightly simplifying the tone.

work towards understanding

Highlights the ongoing process of achieving understanding, with "work towards".

attempt to comprehend

Replaces "strive" with "attempt", indicating a trial or effort to comprehend.

make an attempt to understand

Similar to making an effort, it uses "attempt" to denote the undertaking of understanding.

be committed to understanding

Focuses on the dedication to achieve comprehension.

devote oneself to understanding

Implies a significant commitment of time and effort to achieve comprehension.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "strive to understand"?

You can use alternatives like "endeavor to understand", "seek to understand", or "aim to comprehend" depending on the context.

How to use "strive to understand" in a sentence?

"Strive to understand" is typically followed by the object of understanding. For example, "Scientists "strive to understand" the origins of the universe" or "Leaders should "strive to understand" the needs of their constituents."

Which is correct, "strive to understand" or "strive for understanding"?

Both "strive to understand" and "strive for understanding" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Strive to understand" implies an active effort to comprehend something, while "strive for understanding" implies working towards a state of mutual comprehension.

What's the difference between "strive to understand" and "try to understand"?

"Strive to understand" suggests a more dedicated and persistent effort than "try to understand". "Strive" indicates a serious and determined attempt, while "try" is a more general term for attempting something.