typically understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "typically understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a common or general interpretation of a concept or term. Example: "In the context of literature, the term 'hero' is typically understood as a character who demonstrates courage and noble qualities."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Spanish Romanticism, typically understood as having two branches, had no single leader.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Graph #1 shows different rankings of efficiencies than what is typically understood by the industry.

Energy

Because the genetic origins of Mendelian diseases and cancer are so different, they are typically understood to be distinct phenomena.

Columbia University

By contrast, the value of a company's intangible assets is typically understood only by the company itself or its close partners.

Harvard Business Review

Likewise, "pain" is typically understood so as to include all negative feelings or experiences, such as aches, discomfort, fear, guilt, anxiousness, regret, and so forth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite the important role that visual art plays in the West, in a broader religious and cultural sense Western society is typically understood to be logocentric: it privileges the word over the image.

The New Yorker

A convention is typically understood as contested when a candidate cannot reach the necessary delegate count using both pledged delegates and superdelegates, typically party officials and state leaders who are not bound to any candidate.

The New York Times

I am not referring here to the popular notion of clicks and mortar, which is typically understood to mean simply the establishment of a Web channel that complements existing physical channels.

Harvard Business Review

Such debris disks were typically understood to be the remains of a small body, such as an asteroid or comet, that had come near the white dwarf and been torn apart by tidal forces.

The New York Times - Science

Robustness is typically understood as an ability of adaptive beamforming algorithm to achieve high performance in the situations with imperfect, incomplete, or erroneous knowledge about the source, propagation media, and antenna array.

Signal Processing

Causation is typically understood to have a temporal dimension.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "typically understood" to introduce a standard or widely accepted definition before presenting an alternative or nuanced perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "typically understood" as filler. Ensure it introduces a clarification or contrast, not just a restatement of the obvious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "typically understood" functions as a qualifier, introducing a concept or term's conventional or common interpretation. Ludwig AI shows this usage across various domains, indicating its role in setting a baseline understanding before further discussion or analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "typically understood" is a versatile qualifier used to introduce a common or conventional interpretation of a term or concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various domains, including science, news, academia, and encyclopedias. When writing, it's best practice to use "typically understood" to establish a shared understanding before presenting alternative views or nuances, but avoid overusing it as filler. Alternatives include "commonly known", "generally accepted", and "widely recognized". This phrase can range from a neutral to formal register, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commonly known

This alternative focuses on widespread knowledge or awareness of something.

generally accepted

This emphasizes the broad agreement or consensus surrounding an idea.

widely recognized

This suggests that something is acknowledged by a large number of people.

conventionally interpreted

This highlights the traditional or established way of understanding something.

usually conceived

This focuses on the common way people imagine or form an idea of something.

ordinarily regarded

This suggests the standard or normal way of thinking about something.

in common parlance

This refers to how a term or concept is generally used in everyday language.

as a rule

This alternative emphasizes the normal or common course of events.

in most cases

This focuses on what happens most of the time or in the majority of situations.

for the most part

This indicates that something is generally true, even if there are exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "typically understood" in a sentence?

You can use "typically understood" to introduce a common interpretation of a concept, as in "Causation is "typically understood" to have a temporal dimension."

What are some alternatives to "typically understood"?

Alternatives include "commonly known", "generally accepted", or "widely recognized", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to qualify a statement with "typically understood"?

No, only use "typically understood" when you want to highlight a common or conventional interpretation, especially if you intend to contrast it with another perspective.

What's the difference between "typically understood" and "generally believed"?

"Typically understood" refers to a standard interpretation, while "generally believed" suggests a widespread belief, which may or may not be accurate or well-founded.