understand on what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "understand on what" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may lead to confusion in communication. Example: "I need to understand on what basis you made your decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Indeed, in modern societies often permeated by deception, people need to understand on what circumstances one can promote or inhibit this kind of behaviour.

Plosone

In addition to the names of kings, events occasionally are mentioned, especially for the later years; but it is hard to understand on what principle they are included.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"What amazes those who follow you and strive to understand on what basis you claim the socialist system's superiority," Mr. Grigorescu tells the Ceausescu character, "is that you behave like — and you actually are — a great capitalist".

The New York Times - Arts

To an outsider who believes what the Japanese tell him namely, that this is really the way the system works—it is hard to understand on what basis the crucial decision at age 45 is made.

Harvard Business Review

Try to understand on what grounds other angels and VCs passed.

TechCrunch

There's no better way to help people understand on what not to click than showing them examples.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

We were pretty well understood on what we were going to do".

The New York Times - Sports

Once more is understood on what makes a data set predictive, this knowledge can be utilised to derive a more accurate predictive model.

Journal of Cheminformatics

This visit could run long, I now understand, depending on what I say next.

The Washington Post

With scrimmages you will understand better on what you must do during the game as well as off the game.

WikiHow

Everyone is trying to understand what is going on and what the consumer mindset is".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "understand on what" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "understand the basis of", "understand the reason for", or "under what circumstances" to improve readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common error is using "on what" when a more direct preposition or conjunction is needed. Instead of saying "understand on what principle", try "understand the principle" or "understand what principle" to avoid an awkward phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understand on what" functions as an attempt to specify the grounds, reasons, or conditions for understanding something. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not standard English, and examples show varied usage across different sources, sometimes appearing awkward.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "understand on what" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English, as per Ludwig AI. While it appears in various sources, including news, science, and encyclopedias, its usage is uncommon and often sounds awkward. For clearer and more effective communication, it is recommended to use alternatives like "understand the basis of", "understand the reason for", or "under what circumstances". These alternatives provide better grammatical structure and enhance readability, avoiding the awkwardness associated with the phrase "understand on what".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understand the basis of

Replaces "on what" with "the basis of", providing a clearer grammatical structure and emphasizing the foundation for understanding.

understand the reason for

Focuses on understanding the cause or rationale behind something, replacing "on what" with "the reason for" for improved clarity.

understand under what circumstances

Specifies that understanding is related to the conditions or situations in which something occurs, replacing "on what" with a more explicit phrase.

comprehend the rationale behind

Uses "rationale" to emphasize the logical reasons for understanding, offering a more formal alternative.

grasp the principles of

Shifts the focus to understanding fundamental concepts or rules, replacing "on what" with a broader term.

appreciate the grounds for

Emphasizes recognizing and valuing the justifications for something, providing a slightly different nuance.

perceive the justification for

Highlights the ability to see and understand the reasons or evidence supporting something.

fathom the logic of

Implies a deeper understanding of the reasoning or coherence behind something, suggesting a more profound comprehension.

decipher the motives for

Concentrates on understanding the underlying intentions or motivations, focusing on the reasons behind actions or decisions.

discern the cause of

Focuses on identifying and understanding the origin or reason for something, emphasizing the causal relationship.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "understand on what"?

Instead of "understand on what", you can use phrases like "understand the basis of", "understand the reason for", or "under what circumstances" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. You could also use "comprehend the rationale behind", which is a more formal alternative.

Is "understand on what" grammatically correct?

The phrase "understand on what" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to rephrase it for clarity and accuracy, using options like "understand what" or "understand the basis of".

How can I improve my sentence using "understand on what"?

To improve your sentence, replace "understand on what" with a more direct and grammatically sound phrase. For example, instead of "I need to understand on what basis you made your decision", say "I need to understand the basis on which you made your decision" or "I need to "understand the reason for" your decision".

What's the difference between "understand on what" and "understand what"?

"Understand what" is a direct and grammatically correct way to ask about the content or nature of something being understood. "Understand on what" is less common and often sounds awkward. "Understand what" focuses on the information, while "understand on what" attempts to specify the basis or condition, but does so in a grammatically weak way. It is preferable to use "understand the basis of" instead.