under statement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under statement" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be a typographical error or a misunderstanding of the phrase "understatement," which refers to a statement that intentionally makes something seem less important or serious than it is. Example: "His comment about the disaster was a clear understatement; the situation was far worse than he described."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

That is indeed worth - in an Elysee spokesman's unofficial (under)statement - a "bad case of the blues".

BBC

William Curtis has the last word on the Luxembourg building: "It reaffirms," he has said, "that it is under statement that makes powerful art".

The Guardian

The Financial Accounting Standards Board calls for this treatment under Statement 87, an 18-year-old compromise between some accountants, who argue that pension liabilities should be included in corporate financial reports, and actuaries, who think they should be segregated.

The New York Times

Pairs of positively and negatively worded statements are organized under statement topics.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The conclusion that GPs are not very satisfied by communication with intensivists is therefore an under statement.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Fond of a little under-statement is Mr Sheens.

Independent

In retrospect, to call this astonishing is an under-statement.

The Guardian - Tech

To say that I'm personally distressed about this would be an under-statement.

The Guardian - Sport

To say that a few skeletons are unearthed during the course of the play would be an under-statement.

The Guardian

Pardon the under-statement, but they just don't like Mr Mandelson.And that, by the way, is the fourth flavour of hahahahah.

The Economist

This was greeted as the under-statement of the year by the former Labour minister, Mr David Ennals, who said that the public was "really very shocked and staggered that this event could have occurred".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to diminish the significance of something, use "understatement" instead of "under statement". For example, "To say it was a disaster is an understatement."

Common error

Avoid using "under statement" when you mean to say something is being presented as less important than it actually is. The correct term for this is "understatement".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under statement" is generally considered grammatically incorrect as a standalone phrase. However, it can appear as part of a longer expression, such as "under oath statement" or where "under" functions as a preposition, as illustrated by some examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "under statement" does appear in various contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is usually better conveyed by "understatement", which refers to intentionally downplaying something. As Ludwig AI points out, instances of "under statement" are sometimes part of longer, specific phrases or may represent errors. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to the intended meaning and appropriate wording in each specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under oath

This alternative indicates being bound by a sworn declaration, emphasizing the legal or formal aspect of a statement.

bound by a statement

This phrase highlights the obligation or commitment resulting from a formal declaration.

under condition

This indicates that something is happening subject to a particular term or requirement.

subject to statement

This alternative describes something that is conditional upon a declaration.

based on statement

This phrase shows that something is dependent on a declaration or account.

pursuant to statement

This phrase indicates that an action is taken in accordance with a declaration.

in accordance with the statement

This phrase denotes that something is done agreeing with what has been declared.

in compliance with the statement

This option highlights adherence to what is stated in a formal document.

under the provisions of the statement

This suggests adherence to specific terms outlined in a declaration.

governed by the statement

This means that actions or conditions are controlled or directed by a formal declaration.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "understatement" in a sentence?

Use "understatement" when you want to intentionally downplay the significance of something. For example, "Describing the flood as a 'bit of rain' is a massive understatement".

Is "under statement" grammatically correct?

No, "under statement" is not typically considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's usually a misspelling or misuse of "understatement", or part of a longer phrase such as "under oath statement".

What's the difference between "under statement" and "understatement"?

"Under statement" is generally incorrect. "Understatement" refers to a figure of speech where something is presented as less significant than it is.

What are some alternatives to using "understatement"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "downplaying", "minimizing", or "belittling". These all involve making something seem less important than it actually is.