to acquire an understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to acquire an understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of gaining knowledge or insight about a particular subject or concept. Example: "In order to excel in this field, it is essential to acquire an understanding of the fundamental principles."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Princess Fatima told the President through an interpreter [Weyman] that she was in this country as a traveller and to obtain an education for her sons and to acquire an understanding of the United States.

The New Yorker

The European Commission?s Translation Service offers 5-month in-house traineeships for graduates who wish to acquire an understanding of its work and gain professional translation experience.

Science Magazine

Trend's study suggests that the inclusion of narratives of unique historical events within the teaching of biology can enable students to acquire an understanding of deep time and, thus, provide students with a temporal framework for micro-evolutionary processes.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Areas of interest were primarily the screen room and the oxygen delignification stage, where it was desired to acquire an understanding of how the proposed upgrades were going to affect the overall process.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

To acquire an understanding of the societal costs of dementia and how they affect families, health and social care services, and governments to improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers.

Alzheimer's & Dementia

To learn the meaning of an expression, McDowell writes for instance, "is to acquire an understanding that obliges us subsequently … to judge and speak in certain determinate ways, on pain of failure to obey the dictates of the meaning we have grasped" (1984: 45).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The response in rainfall partitioning to strip thinning can also help us to acquire an integrated understanding of the changes in canopy water balance under different forest practices.

Journal of Hydrology

The transcribed interviews were first read through to acquire an overall understanding of the content related to the research aim.

BMC Public Health

It is to be hoped that further interdisciplinary research freed from the limitations of the framework of psychological research of the middle of the 20th century will enable us to acquire a better understanding of empathy's importance for understanding other agents.

SEP

An alternative approach to understanding the MSG system would be to acquire a better understanding of the gene family.

BMC Genomics

It has been suggested that the emerging idea of defining and understanding "maritime cultural landscapes" may be a way to acquire a better understanding of this history of human/environment interaction.

Ocean & Coastal Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to acquire an understanding" when you want to emphasize the active process of gaining knowledge or insight, particularly through study or experience. It's suitable for formal and academic contexts.

Common error

While "to acquire an understanding" is grammatically sound, overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to understand" or "to learn" for more direct and accessible communication, especially in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to acquire an understanding" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates the reason or goal behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct. The examples show how it is commonly used in academic and professional contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to acquire an understanding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that expresses the purpose of gaining knowledge or insight. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts. While suitable for formal and academic settings, it's essential to consider simpler alternatives like "to understand" for clarity in less formal communication. As shown in the analysis, this phrase appears frequently in scientific and news media sources. Remember to use it to emphasize the active pursuit of comprehension. When you want to focus on the achievement of deep intuitive knowledge use "to gain insight", or when you want to build a more complete knowledge consider "to develop comprehension" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to gain insight

Emphasizes the process of gaining a deeper, more intuitive understanding.

to develop comprehension

Focuses on building a thorough and complete understanding.

to cultivate knowledge

Highlights the process of actively growing and nurturing one's understanding.

to achieve awareness

Stresses the attainment of a clear perception or realization.

to foster appreciation

Implies developing a sense of value and deep understanding.

to build a grasp

Focuses on establishing a firm and solid understanding of a subject.

to get the hang of

An informal alternative emphasizing practical understanding through experience.

to form a conception

Highlights the mental process of creating an idea or understanding.

to familiarize oneself

Emphasizes the process of becoming acquainted with and understanding something.

to learn the ropes

An idiomatic phrase referring to learning the basics of a process or system.

FAQs

How can I use "to acquire an understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "to acquire an understanding" in a sentence like this: "Students must study diligently "to acquire an understanding" of the subject matter."

What are some alternatives to "to acquire an understanding"?

Some alternatives include "to gain insight", "to develop comprehension", or "to cultivate knowledge".

What is the difference between "to understand" and "to acquire an understanding"?

"To understand" is a more general term for having comprehension. "To acquire an understanding" emphasizes the process of actively gaining that comprehension, often through effort or study.

Is it better to say "to understand" or "to acquire an understanding" in formal writing?

While both are correct, "to acquire an understanding" can add a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the effort involved in gaining knowledge. However, using "to understand" is perfectly acceptable and often clearer.