well at understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "well at understanding" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used to describe someone's proficiency in comprehension, but it should be rephrased for clarity. Example: "She is well at understanding complex theories" should be "She is good at understanding complex theories."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It did pretty well at understanding me even when I used a less than optimal built-in microphone instead of a headset.

Forbes

Science does exceedingly well at understanding issues remote from the scientist -- stars and galaxies, atoms and electrons.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A summary is given of the work that aims at describing the parameters guiding the formation of whisker carbon as well as at understanding the growth mechanism.

Catalysis Today

The animals were then considered proficient at indicating the one location out of four that contained their preferred food, as well as at understanding the connection between the baiting and the choosing.

Plosone

This nematode has been valuable in basic research on anthelmintic pharmacology of human and agricultural parasites [ 7] as well as at understanding the mechanisms of resistance to anthelmintics [ 8], mainly due to the phylogenetic relationship to other parasitic helminthes.

BioMed Research International

Social workers are good at understanding human behaviour, motivation and interpersonal relationships, as well as workforce challenges.

The Guardian

But looking at RV's as homes may be the key to understanding their appeal, as well as understanding how people with moderate incomes can afford them, especially the big ones.

The New York Times

And she doesn't do well at all understanding names of cities when you're trying to get the weather.

The New York Times - Tech

These findings have implications for development of novel antibacterial agents as well as research aimed at understanding bacterial virulence.

Plosone

Conclusions: The microsatellite primers will be useful in future population genetic studies as well as those aimed at understanding the geographic origin(s) of wild and cultivated populations.

Applications in Plant Sciences

Our work will help to select strains to study the role of single or combination of T3E genes in the interaction with plants, as well as for studies aiming at understanding the molecular mechanisms of redundancy between T3Es.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "well at understanding" with more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "good at understanding", "skilled at understanding", or "proficient at understanding" for improved clarity and acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "well" directly before "at" when describing someone's ability to understand. "Well" typically modifies verbs or adjectives. Instead, opt for adjectives like "good", "skilled", or "proficient" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well at understanding" attempts to function as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "understanding", indicating a high degree of competence. However, as Ludwig AI notes, this construction is not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "well at understanding" aims to describe competence in comprehension, it's not considered standard English. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable. Although examples exist across News & Media and Science, opting for alternatives like "good at understanding", "skilled at understanding", or "proficient at understanding" ensures clarity and grammatical correctness. These alternatives are more widely accepted and suitable for formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good at understanding

Employs "good" as a more common and acceptable alternative to "well".

proficient at understanding

Replaces "well" with "proficient", emphasizing skill level.

adept at understanding

Uses "adept" instead of "well", suggesting a natural talent for understanding.

skilled at understanding

Substitutes "well" with "skilled", highlighting competence.

excels in understanding

Replaces "well at" with "excels in", indicating superior ability.

strong in comprehension

Shifts the focus to the noun "comprehension" instead of the verb "understanding".

has a good grasp of understanding

Emphasizes a firm understanding or control of the subject.

demonstrates a strong understanding

Highlights the demonstration of understanding, suitable for formal contexts.

understands effectively

Focuses on the action of understanding with the adverb "effectively".

shows a knack for understanding

Indicates a natural inclination or talent for understanding.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct alternative to "well at understanding"?

More standard alternatives include "good at understanding", "skilled at understanding", or "proficient at understanding". These options are more widely accepted and grammatically sound.

How can I use "good at understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "good at understanding" to describe someone's ability to comprehend things effectively. For example: "She is good at understanding complex concepts."

Is there a difference in meaning between "well at understanding" and "good at understanding"?

While the intended meaning is similar, "good at understanding" is the preferred and more grammatically correct choice. "Well at understanding" is not standard English.

In what contexts might I see the phrase "well at understanding"?

While not recommended, you might encounter "well at understanding" in informal contexts or in writing where grammatical precision is not strictly enforced. However, it is best to use more standard alternatives for clarity and correctness.