to foster understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to foster understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the promotion or encouragement of comprehension or awareness between individuals or groups. Example: "The workshop aims to foster understanding between different cultures through shared experiences and discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Across Germany Bundesliga clubs have launched a range of schemes to try to foster understanding.

The Guardian - Sport

In retirement, he wrote columns for South Carolina newspapers and HuffPost, taught at the Charleston School of Law, founded a scholarship program and established the Hollings Center for International Dialogue to foster understanding between America and nations with predominantly Muslim populations.

The New York Times

They are designed to foster understanding between men and women and to facilitate discussions that are beneficial both professionally and personally.

Science Magazine

It offers an opportunity to shape perceptions, to explain issues, to engage foreign cultures and to foster understanding.

Huffington Post

Bloombeg reports that Dimon will attend as an executive committee member of the Business Council, a group of business leaders who seek to "foster understanding through discussion".

Huffington Post

Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials identified in this manuscript are to foster understanding.

Biology Open

Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this manuscript are to foster understanding.

Biomedical Optics Express

The goal is to foster understanding of complex fire emission system dynamics and feedbacks.

Forest Ecology and Management

Field study to foster understanding of natural hazards and human influence on the environment.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To foster understanding and agreement between counterparts of different cultural backgrounds.

Harvard University

Some people in our city, however, struggle unsung, perhaps even unknown, to foster understanding of the city's diversity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to foster understanding" when you want to emphasize the active promotion of comprehension or empathy between individuals or groups. For instance, in educational or intercultural contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "to foster understanding" in contexts where a simpler term like "to explain" or "to clarify" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to foster understanding" functions as an infinitive phrase that expresses the purpose or aim of an action. It often follows verbs like "aim", "seek", or "designed" to indicate the intended outcome of promoting comprehension and empathy. This is consistent with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

28%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to foster understanding" serves as a purpose connector, frequently employed to articulate the intent to promote comprehension across diverse subjects and settings. Ludwig AI analysis affirms its correctness and wide applicability. The phrase exhibits a neutral to formal tone and appears most often within news, academic, and scientific discourse, underscoring its suitability for contexts requiring clarity and precision. When aiming for simpler language or emphasizing slightly different aspects of comprehension, alternatives such as "to facilitate understanding" or "to build understanding" can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to bolster understanding

Replaces "foster" with "bolster", suggesting a strengthening of existing understanding.

to facilitate understanding

Uses "facilitate" instead of "foster", implying making understanding easier to achieve.

to strengthen understanding

Emphasizes reinforcing understanding, rather than initiating it.

to further understanding

Suggests advancing understanding to a greater degree.

to enhance understanding

Uses "enhance" which implies to improve the quality of understanding.

to cultivate understanding

Replaces "foster" with "cultivate", suggesting a more gradual and nurturing development of understanding.

to nurture understanding

Similar to cultivate, emphasizing the care and attention given to developing understanding.

to develop understanding

Focuses on the process of understanding coming into being and growing.

to build understanding

Suggests constructing understanding step by step.

to encourage understanding

Shifts the focus to motivating others to achieve understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "to foster understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "to foster understanding" to introduce the purpose of an action or initiative. For example, "The workshop aims "to foster understanding" between different departments within the company."

What are some alternatives to "to foster understanding"?

Alternatives include "to bolster understanding", "to facilitate understanding", or "to promote comprehension", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "to foster understanding" formal or informal?

"To foster understanding" is generally considered a formal phrase suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts. Simpler alternatives might be preferred in informal settings.

What is the difference between "to foster understanding" and "to create understanding"?

"To foster understanding" implies nurturing and encouraging existing understanding, while "to create understanding" suggests initiating understanding where it didn't previously exist.