understandable by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "understandable by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something (usually an idea or concept) that can be understood by a specific group of people. For example, "This medical journal article is only understandable by medical professionals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The words are not understandable by humans".

The New York Times

The report must be understandable by the client.

Cornell University

> field data from the is not understandable (by me).

Harvard University

This requires the robots to perform human-like actions that are easily understandable by humans.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

First, it must be easily understandable by anybody familiarized with other musical notation systems.

Princeton University

These techniques are elementary, and should be understandable by a broad mathematical audience.

Princeton University

Besides, it is easy to set up and understandable by non-experts.

Cities

"Everything about myself as a filmmaker is only understandable by going on the Cyclone," he said.

The New Yorker

It also needed to be easily understandable by the average user.

Harvard Business Review

All submissions should be clearly written, and understandable by scientists from diverse backgrounds, not just specialists.

Nature

"The kid just didn't have any emotion -- totally not understandable by me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a diverse audience, use "understandable by" to clarify who should be able to comprehend the information. For example: "The guidelines should be written to be understandable by both experts and non-experts."

Common error

Avoid using "understandable by" without specifying the group. Instead of saying "The concept should be understandable by all", be specific: "The concept should be understandable by all stakeholders, including project managers and developers."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understandable by" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a preceding noun or adjective, specifying the intended audience or group capable of comprehending the subject matter. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

Academia

26%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "understandable by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that specifies the intended audience for comprehension. As Ludwig AI explains, it is essential for clarity and effectiveness in communication across various fields, including science, academia, and news media. While alternatives such as ""comprehensible to"" and ""accessible to"" exist, the key is to ensure the message is tailored to the intended audience. Common errors involve overgeneralization, so specifying the target group is crucial. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that, while the register may vary, the phrase remains widely accepted and valuable in clear and precise writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprehensible to

Focuses on the ability to be understood, similar to "understandable by", but with a slightly more formal tone.

intelligible to

Emphasizes clarity and the ability to be grasped intellectually by someone.

accessible to

Highlights the ease with which something can be understood or used by a specified group.

clear to

Indicates a lack of ambiguity and ease of understanding for a particular audience.

plain to

Suggests simplicity and directness in being understood, typically by someone.

within the grasp of

Implies that something is within the intellectual capacity of someone to understand.

able to be understood by

A more verbose alternative that emphasizes the potential for understanding by a group.

not beyond someone's ken

A more archaic and literary way of saying that something is not beyond someone's understanding.

knowable by

Focuses on the possibility of gaining knowledge or understanding about something.

discernible by

Stresses the ability to perceive or recognize something by a specific group.

FAQs

How can I use "understandable by" in a sentence?

Use "understandable by" to specify the target audience for your message. For example, "The instructions need to be "clear to" novice users" or "The data must be "accessible to" researchers".

What are some alternatives to "understandable by"?

Alternatives include "comprehensible to", "intelligible to", or "accessible to", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "easily understandable by"?

Yes, "easily understandable by" is grammatically correct and emphasizes the simplicity of comprehension for the specified audience. However, ensure that "easily understandable by" is not redundant; sometimes "understandable by" alone is sufficient.

What's the difference between "understandable by" and "understandable to"?

Both "understandable by" and "understandable to" are generally interchangeable, but "understandable by" is more common when referring to a group or category of people, while "understandable to" is more often used for individual understanding.