tacitly understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"tacitly understood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is assumed to be known without being stated explicitly. For example, "The team members knew that they had to be on time, but no one needed to say it - it was tacitly understood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

There were no nets, no lights and no scoreboard, but the rules were tacitly understood.

The New York Times

The slow amelioration of inequality was tacitly understood as a collective purpose, shared by all political parties.

The Guardian - Books

When the first professional league was formed four years later, it had no written rule barring black players, but it was tacitly understood that they were not welcome.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Rosenfield wrote: "It was tacitly understood by me (and Leonard) that I was to give the watch back at the end of the evening, and I did.

The New York Times

Knowledge comes from understanding the context of information, seeing it in practice and learning the things that are tacitly understood but rarely stated.

The New York Times

It was at this point that Mr. Zakharov began to verge over the boundaries of what some officials call the "rules of the game" as they are tacitly understood by American and Soviet intelligence services.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Urban audiences tacitly understand that there are different venues for different kinds of performances: classical artists at Kennedy Center, big pop concerts at Verizon Center.

The Washington Post

From small indies through to major publishers, everyone tacitly understands that stoking the desire of sales is often best done by keeping the audience at one remove from the product, and the more cynically minded tend to think that everything that happens post-purchase is the buyer's problem.

TechCrunch

When Anna and Adam were little I'd drop to my knees to so that they could look into my eyes and tacitly understand that blessing them was an act of thanksgiving and humility for me.

Huffington Post

Such a game is governed by complex, tacit, mutually understood rules or norms, principles of generation,that render what's fictional in the game, what players of it are supposed to imagine in playing it, a fixed function of the actual states and behaviors of various things and people they perceive, manipulate, and otherwise interact with as they play it.

SEP

Everything was understood tacitly, by implication.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tacitly understood" to describe the absence of explicit rules or agreements in situations where everyone involved already knows what is expected of them.

Common error

Avoid using "tacitly understood" when there's a possibility that the understanding isn't actually shared by everyone involved. Ensure that the context genuinely implies a common knowledge to prevent confusion or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tacitly understood" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a past participle verb, indicating the manner in which something is understood. It describes a situation where understanding is implied rather than explicitly stated. Ludwig provides real-world examples demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tacitly understood" is a phrase used to describe an understanding that is implied rather than explicitly stated. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. While it can add sophistication to your writing, it's important to ensure that the understanding is truly shared to avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives like "implicitly agreed upon" or "unspoken agreement" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understood without saying

Directly points out that no explicit communication was needed.

unspoken agreement

Highlights the lack of verbal communication in the agreement.

implicitly agreed upon

Highlights the agreement aspect, suggesting a non-verbal consensus.

generally assumed

Emphasizes the assumption made by most people.

by common consent

Focuses on the consensual nature of the understanding.

quietly accepted

Focuses on the acceptance aspect more than the understanding.

commonly recognized

Stresses the widespread recognition of a fact or situation.

presumed knowledge

Focuses on what is believed to be known by all parties involved.

taken for granted

Implies that something is accepted without question or conscious thought.

subject to mutual understanding

Highlights the mutual aspect of something.

FAQs

What does "tacitly understood" mean?

The phrase "tacitly understood" refers to something that is understood or agreed upon without being explicitly stated or formally expressed. It implies a shared understanding that is implicit rather than overt.

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

You can use "tacitly understood" to describe unspoken agreements, shared assumptions, or implicit knowledge. For example, "It was "tacitly understood" that everyone would contribute to the project." or "The rules of engagement, though never written down, were "tacitly understood" among the team members."

What are some alternatives to "tacitly understood"?

Some alternatives to "tacitly understood" include "implicitly agreed upon", "generally assumed", or "unspoken agreement". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "tacitly understood" and "explicitly stated"?

"Tacitly understood" refers to an understanding that is implied, whereas "explicitly stated" refers to something that is directly and clearly expressed. One is unspoken, while the other is clearly communicated.