was not understood by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not understood by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not comprehended by a specific person or group. Example: "The complex theory was not understood by the majority of the students in the class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

His subversive joke was not understood by anyone except the African-Americans in his band.

The New Yorker

Her remarks come as the former Irish prime minister who sealed the Good Friday agreement with Tony Blair told MPs that Northern Ireland was constitutionally different to Scotland and Wales, and that was not understood by Brexiters.

The Guardian

What I think was not understood by doctors who concern themselves with musical injuries, but might well be understood by sports doctors, is that the working of the muscles must not only be preceded but also followed by stretching.

The New York Times - Arts

Advocates for Mr. Gattis petitioned the State Board of Pardons for clemency, arguing that his abusive childhood was not understood by the court at the time of his sentencing.

The New York Times

The Ministry of Agriculture considered it necessary to issue a warning of the hazard of going into arsenic-sprayed fields, but the warning was not understood by the cattle (or by the wild animals and birds), and reports of poisoned cattle were received with monotonous regularity.

The New Yorker

However, this was not understood by the PT as a challenge to her thinking.

International Journal of STEM Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The importance of this prison-break campaign in the rapid build-out of Islamic State forces wasn't understood by U.S. analysts.

The Washington Post

Vague messages are not understood by those with intellectual disabilities.

The New York Times

The letter is in code and its contents are not understood by reader.

Cornell University

Therefore most notations are not understood by the business users due to the complexity of them.

Computer Standards & Interfaces

If they are not understood by local police and judiciary, they might as well not exist".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing to an active voice for more direct and concise writing. For instance, instead of "The message was not understood by the team", try "The team did not understand the message".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive voice constructions like "was not understood by", which can make writing sound indirect and less engaging. Strive for a balance with active voice where appropriate to improve clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not understood by" functions as a passive construction indicating a lack of comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound. It highlights that the subject experienced a failure to grasp the meaning of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not understood by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction to indicate a lack of comprehension. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for use in written English across various contexts. While alternatives like "was not grasped by" and "was not comprehended by" exist, this phrase remains a clear and effective way to express that something was not successfully understood. While versatile, strive for active voice where possible in order to be more direct. The phrase sees frequent use in scientific, media and encyclopedic publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not comprehended by

Replaces "understood" with "comprehended", a more formal synonym, maintaining the passive voice.

was not grasped by

Substitutes "understood" with "grasped", suggesting a failure to seize or perceive the meaning.

was not appreciated by

Indicates that the significance or value was not recognized, shifting the focus from comprehension to appreciation.

was not clear to

Focuses on the lack of clarity rather than the failure to understand, changing the subject of the sentence.

remained unclear to

Emphasizes the continuing state of being misunderstood, using a more descriptive verb.

escaped the notice of

Shifts the focus to a lack of awareness, implying something was overlooked rather than misunderstood.

was beyond the ken of

Uses a more archaic and formal expression to indicate that something was beyond someone's knowledge or understanding.

failed to register with

Suggests that something did not make an impact or impression, implying a lack of understanding or attention.

was misinterpreted by

Indicates an incorrect understanding, rather than a complete lack of understanding.

was lost on

Implies a subtle or nuanced point was not perceived or understood, often used for humor or irony.

FAQs

What does "was not understood by" mean?

The phrase "was not understood by" means that someone failed to comprehend or grasp something. It indicates a lack of understanding or clarity on the part of the person or group mentioned.

How can I use "was not understood by" in a sentence?

You can use "was not understood by" to indicate that a concept, message, or instruction was not clear to someone. For example: "The technical jargon "was not understood by" the general audience."

What are some alternatives to "was not understood by"?

Some alternatives to "was not understood by" include "was not grasped by", "was not comprehended by", or "remained unclear to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when something is misunderstood?

While both active and passive voice can be used, active voice (e.g. "The audience did not understand the lecture") is often more direct and concise than passive voice (e.g. "The lecture "was not understood by" the audience").