understand the possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "understand the possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the comprehension of potential outcomes or scenarios in various contexts, such as decision-making or planning. Example: "In order to make an informed choice, it is essential to understand the possibility of different results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"The Monsanto scientists understand" the possibility of resistance, said Joseph Di Tomaso, a weed specialist at the University of California at Davis.

The New York Times

To better understand the possibility of H5N1 making a similar transformation, two teams of scientists recently manipulated the virus until it could spread through the air from one ferret to another.

The New York Times - Science

If beauty is an idea in us, rather than a feature of objects independent of us, then how do we understand the possibility of correctness and incorrectness – how do we understand the possibility of standards of judgment – in this domain?

SEP

In this paper, a series of fatigue damage assessments on a bolster was performed to understand the possibility of fatigue crack initiation under normal operating conditions.

Engineering Failure Analysis

The objective was to understand the possibility of using lower level design alternatives for manipulating users' affective reactions by comparing colors and shapes in the form of textual properties, abstract polygonal shapes, and the combination of both respectively.

Procedia Manufacturing

It is true that Kant does remark in the General Note on the System of Principles in the B edition of the first Critique that "in order to understand the possibility of things in accordance with the categories, and thus to establish the objective reality of the latter, we do not merely need intuitions, but always outer intuitions" (B291).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Our inquiry focuses on understanding the role embodied metaphors may play in supporting people to understand the possibilities for physical interaction in augmented spaces.

Interacting with Computers

The latter ones have to clearly understand the possibilities and limitations of this technology while the former have to be aware about the possible applications.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

And the father wanted his son to understand the possibilities and the problems that could arise.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a rare opportunity to taste and understand the possibilities of such benign goodness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But I feel I've only just begun to understand the possibilities of drama.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing future plans or potential outcomes, use "understand the possibility" to show you have considered various scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "understand the possibility" when a situation is already confirmed or highly probable. Instead, reserve it for scenarios with genuine uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understand the possibility" functions as a verb phrase, where "understand" acts as the main verb and "the possibility" serves as its direct object. It signifies a cognitive process of grasping or comprehending a potential outcome or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "understand the possibility" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates awareness and consideration of potential outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's prevalent in science, news, and wiki contexts and its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using the phrase, ensure it's applied to situations where genuine uncertainty exists and consider alternatives like "comprehend the potential" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understand the potential

Emphasizes grasping inherent capabilities or future prospects.

understand the likelihood

Deals with comprehending the probability of an occurrence.

understand the risk

Focuses specifically on comprehending potential negative outcomes.

understand the chance

Highlights the comprehension of a probabilistic event.

understand the feasibility

Centers on understanding whether something is practically achievable.

ascertain the possibility

Shifts focus to actively determining whether something is possible.

identify the possibility

Emphasizes recognizing or pinpointing a potential event or outcome.

discover the possibility

Highlights uncovering a potential event or outcome.

understand the assumption

Focuses on comprehending underlying presuppositions.

understand the hypothesis

Centers on grasping a proposed explanation or theory.

FAQs

How can I use "understand the possibility" in a sentence?

You can use "understand the possibility" to indicate that you have considered a potential outcome or event, such as: "We need to understand the possibility of delays before committing to the project."

What's a formal alternative to "understand the possibility"?

In a formal context, you could use phrases like "ascertain the likelihood" or "comprehend the potential" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "understand the possibilities" or "understand the possibility"?

The choice between "understand the possibilities" and "understand the possibility" depends on whether you are referring to multiple potential outcomes or a single, specific one. "Understand the possibilities" implies multiple potential scenarios.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "understand the possibility"?

It's best to avoid "understand the possibility" when discussing certainties. For instance, instead of saying "We understand the possibility of the sun rising tomorrow", it's better to state "We know the sun will rise tomorrow."