to understand how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to understand how" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are referencing something that one must understand in order to move forward. For example, "We must work hard to understand how to address the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You have to understand how people walk.

The New York Times

To understand how, as well as why".

The New York Times

To understand how he changed the world.

The New York Times

I wanted to understand how.

The New York Times

It's important to understand how you fight.

The New Yorker

We want to understand how it works.

The New Yorker

To understand how they will govern, we need to understand how they run.

The New York Times

To understand how these products work, it helps to understand how professionals work.

The New York Times

"You need to understand how China works.

The Guardian

For trying to understand how she feels?

The Washington Post

To understand how this works, it's important to understand how the legal rules operate.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to understand how" when emphasizing the process of gaining insight into a mechanism or function, as opposed to simply knowing a fact. For example, "We need to understand how the system works before making changes."

Common error

Avoid using "to understand how" in overly passive constructions that obscure the subject. Instead of saying "It needs to be understood how..." opt for "We need to understand how..." to maintain clarity and directness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to understand how" functions as an infinitive phrase often introducing the purpose or reason behind an action. Ludwig indicates its widespread usage across varied contexts, emphasizing its role in expressing the need for comprehension before proceeding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to understand how" is a versatile phrase used to introduce the need for comprehension, primarily focusing on methods, processes, or systems. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While it maintains a neutral to formal register, its effective use relies on avoiding passive constructions and emphasizing the subject gaining understanding. Alternatives such as "to comprehend how" or "to discern how" may offer nuanced replacements depending on the specific context. Ultimately, mastering the use of "to understand how" involves recognizing its communicative purpose: highlighting the necessity of insight before action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to comprehend how

Emphasizes grasping the method or process involved, similar to understanding.

to discern how

Focuses on perceiving or recognizing the way something works, adding a nuance of observation.

to ascertain how

Highlights the act of finding out definitively how something functions.

to determine how

Stresses the process of establishing or concluding how something happens.

to figure out how

Implies a problem-solving approach to understanding the mechanics.

to learn how

Focuses on acquiring knowledge or skill in a particular method.

to investigate how

Highlights a systematic or formal inquiry into the process.

to analyze how

Stresses a detailed examination to understand the functioning.

to explore how

Implies a broader, less structured investigation to gain understanding.

to appreciate how

Focuses on recognizing the value or significance of the way something works.

FAQs

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

Use "to understand how" to introduce an explanation of a process or method. For instance, "To understand how the brain works, we need to study neuroscience."

What's a good alternative to "to understand how"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "to comprehend how", "to discern how", or "to ascertain how" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "to understand how" or "understanding how"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "To understand how" often introduces a purpose or reason, while "understanding how" may function as a subject or part of a noun phrase.

How does "to understand how" differ from "to know how"?

"To know how" implies having the knowledge or skill, whereas "to understand how" emphasizes the process of gaining insight into a mechanism or function, suggesting a deeper level of comprehension.