to comprehend how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to comprehend how" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the understanding of a process, concept, or situation. Example: "To comprehend how the universe works, one must study both physics and philosophy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I find it hard to comprehend how good she is," Williams said.

The New York Times - Sports

Nicolas Sarkozy of France struggles to comprehend how and why his voters' enthusiasm has evaporated.

The Economist

"It's difficult to comprehend how they can have reached this decision".

The Guardian

It's hard for me to comprehend how they got settled in there.

The New Yorker

Nor did she need her readers to comprehend how brilliant she was.

The Guardian - Books

So she was at a loss to comprehend how it still managed to look smug.

The Guardian - Books

"This team now, I think it's difficult to comprehend how much better they are," Bauermann said.

The New York Times - Sports

Our inability (yes, after Auschwitz!) to comprehend how such horrors can take place.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's hard to comprehend how Trump has so successfully hijacked the national conversation around immigration.

The Washington Post

It was hard for me to comprehend how such a beating could occur.

University of California, Berkeley

I am at a loss to comprehend how attacking churches displays displeasure at the actions of a Muslim-led military.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to comprehend how" when you want to emphasize a thoughtful or insightful understanding of a process, situation, or concept. For instance, "Scientists are working diligently to comprehend how climate change impacts ecosystems."

Common error

Avoid using "to comprehend how" in simple sentences where "to understand how" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. For instance, instead of "I'm trying to comprehend how this works", consider "I'm trying to understand how this works".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to comprehend how" functions as an infinitive phrase often used to introduce a clause explaining the process of understanding something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and usable. It generally serves as an adverbial modifier, clarifying the purpose or manner of an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to comprehend how" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, predominantly found in news, scientific and academic writing. It expresses a desire or attempt to understand a complex mechanism or situation. While versatile, as verified by Ludwig AI, it's more suited for formal contexts where "understand" might seem too simplistic. Remember to use it thoughtfully, avoiding overuse in simple sentences where simpler alternatives suffice. Consider related phrases such as "to understand how" or "to grasp how" for different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to understand how

Replaces "comprehend" with a more common synonym, "understand".

to grasp how

Uses "grasp" to indicate understanding, suggesting a more immediate comprehension.

to realize how

Emphasizes becoming aware or understanding a fact or situation.

to perceive how

Focuses on the awareness and understanding of how something is.

to fathom how

Suggests a deeper, more thorough understanding, implying complexity.

to appreciate how

Highlights understanding the value or significance of something.

to discern how

Implies careful observation and judgment to understand something.

to recognize how

Focuses on identifying and acknowledging the way something is.

to ascertain how

Suggests a more formal or investigative approach to understanding.

to make out how

Implies figuring out something that is not immediately clear.

FAQs

How can I use "to comprehend how" in a sentence?

Use "to comprehend how" to express the process of understanding a complex idea or situation. For example, "It's essential to comprehend how different cultures interact".

What are some alternatives to "to comprehend how"?

You can use alternatives like "to understand how", "to grasp how", or "to realize how" depending on the context.

When is it more appropriate to use "to comprehend how" over "to understand how"?

"To comprehend how" is often used when discussing more complex or abstract concepts, whereas "to understand how" is generally suitable for simpler situations. The choice depends on the level of complexity you wish to convey.

Is "to comprehend how" formal or informal?

"To comprehend how" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "to understand how". It is suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing.