understood without saying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "understood without saying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is implied or obvious without needing to be explicitly stated. Example: "The importance of honesty in our relationship is understood without saying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

She begins with a detailed tour of a typical Indian grocery store, aisle by aisle and shelf by shelf, making us understand without saying so that we are about to tour an entire culture.

The New York Times - Books

"It must be something like this," she said once in that perfectly dark, silent, sealed space, and I understood without her saying so that she was imagining what it might be like to be dead.

The New Yorker

But Van Ruijven also clearly understands, without anyone saying a word, that as a frequent and honoured visitor, he will have ample opportunity of forcing himself sexually on the serving maid Griet, and so the painting will be an exquisitely evil memento.

The Guardian - Film

"I understood, without anyone exactly saying so, that they all slept with him," Evie, the novel's narrator, thinks the first time she appraises the scene.

The New Yorker

But we understood, it goes without saying, that they had earned the trust they were given".

The New Yorker

"Art should be understood without any explanations," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

But, as many philosophers have argued, when we talk about an absence having causal effects what we're really saying can be understood without reifying negative states and appealing instead to the actual effects, or the counterfactual effects, of a positive state (Molnar 2000: 77–80; Armstrong 2004: 64 7; Lewis 2004; Beebee 2004).

SEP

Good friends understand that and are there without saying, "I told you so".

Huffington Post

Without saying if he understood why Tyson bit him, Lewis added, "I don't expect Mike to do that to me".

The New York Times - Sports

It goes without saying that you understood all the references immediately, but some of your friends might need a little help with their Gertrude Stein and their Luis Buñuel, so why not send them a link?

The New York Times

China is for China first, foremost, and always — this is something so ingrained, understood, and logical that it goes without saying, let alone necessitating a slogan.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "understood without saying" to highlight assumptions or shared knowledge within a group, streamlining communication by avoiding unnecessary explanations. For example: "The team's commitment to deadlines was understood without saying."

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "understood without saying", as it can sometimes create ambiguity. Ensure the implied understanding is genuinely shared and clear, or consider being more explicit to avoid potential misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understood without saying" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which something is understood. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "understood without saying" serves as a concise way to express an implicit understanding or agreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently employed across diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic, and business spheres. While its occurrence may be somewhat infrequent, its utility in streamlining communication through the avoidance of superfluous explanations remains substantial. Consider alternatives like "tacitly understood" or "implicitly known" to tailor the expression to the required degree of formality, and always ensure that the intended understanding is unequivocally shared to forestall any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tacitly understood

Highlights the unspoken agreement or understanding.

implicitly known

Emphasizes that the knowledge is inherent or implied.

goes without needing to be said

Focuses on the unnecessary nature of stating the obvious.

it's implied

Short and direct, emphasizing the implication.

unspoken understanding

Highlights the lack of verbal communication.

it's a given

Indicates that something is assumed or taken for granted.

inherently clear

Emphasizes the obviousness of the understanding.

presumed knowledge

Focuses on the assumption that something is known.

patently obvious

Highlights the ease with which something is understood.

self-evident

Emphasizes that the matter is obvious and requires no proof.

FAQs

How can I use "understood without saying" in a sentence?

You can use "understood without saying" to imply a mutual agreement or knowledge that doesn't need explicit articulation. For example: "The need for discretion was "understood without saying"."

What's a more formal alternative to "understood without saying"?

A more formal alternative could be "tacitly understood" or "implicitly known", which offer a similar meaning in a more professional context.

Is it correct to say "understood without being said"?

While the meaning is similar, "understood without saying" is the more common and idiomatic expression. "Understood without being said" is less frequently used.

What's the difference between "understood without saying" and "taken for granted"?

"Understood without saying" implies mutual knowledge or agreement. "Taken for granted", on the other hand, implies that something is not fully appreciated or valued, even though it's present.