they understood of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they understood of" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to convey comprehension or knowledge about something. Example: "They understood of the challenges we faced" should be "They understood the challenges we faced."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"They understood, of course, our desire to move quickly".

The New York Times

In their first encounters, it had been unclear how much they understood of the outside world.

The New Yorker

Current understanding of glaucoma was assessed by asking patients what they understood of glaucoma.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

How much – if anything – do you think they understand of what they are saying?

The Guardian - Opinion

What interests the Coens is how foolishly people behave, and how little they understand of what they're doing.

The New Yorker

Many students do not realize how much (or how little) they understand of material until they attempt to solve problems.

CBE Life Sciences Education

They understood nothing of …..Political Economy and Christianity.

Journal of Chinese Studies

They understood the importance of nonconforming together.

The New York Times

They understood the value of cloth".

The New York Times

They understood the energy of London, they understood its variety, and they also understood its darkness".

The Guardian - Books

They understood the value of making Congress their ally".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct preposition with "understood". Use "understood" followed directly by the object of understanding, or use "understood about" or "understood by". For example: "They understood the problem", "The rule was understood by everyone".

Common error

Avoid using "of" directly after "understood" when you mean "understood something". The correct form is usually "They understood [something]" not "They understood of [something]".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they understood of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "understood" typically takes a direct object. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct usage involves omitting "of" or using alternative prepositions like "about" or "by" in specific constructions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they understood of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is usually "they understood [something]", or using alternative prepositions like "about" or "by" in certain constructions. Although examples can be found in various sources, including reputable news outlets, these instances represent incorrect usage. Therefore, it's best to avoid this phrase and opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "they understood", "they were aware of", or "they comprehended" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they understood

Omits "of", correcting the grammatical structure while retaining a general sense of comprehension.

they were aware of

Replaces "understood" with "were aware", focusing on recognition and knowledge.

they comprehended

Substitutes "understood" with "comprehended", implying a deeper level of understanding.

they grasped

Uses "grasped" to indicate a clear and complete understanding.

they realized

Emphasizes the moment of understanding or becoming aware.

they recognized

Highlights the ability to identify and understand something.

they perceived

Implies an understanding based on observation or intuition.

they appreciated

Focuses on understanding the value or importance of something.

they were cognizant of

Formally expresses awareness and understanding.

they had knowledge of

States a factual understanding or information about something.

FAQs

How to correctly use "understood" in a sentence?

Use "understood" followed by the object of understanding (e.g., "They understood the assignment") or use "understood about" or "understood by", depending on the context. Avoid using "of" directly after "understood".

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "they understood of"?

Instead of "they understood of", you can use alternatives like "they understood", "they were aware of", or "they comprehended".

Is it ever correct to use "of" after "understood"?

While "understood of" is generally incorrect, the preposition "of" can follow the verb "understand" in other constructions. For example, "understood of all" to mean it is something everyone knows.

What's the difference between "they understood of" and "they understood"?

"They understood of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "they understood", which means they had a grasp or comprehension of something.