wholly understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is completely or fully comprehended without any misunderstanding. Example: "After the presentation, I felt that the concepts were wholly understood by the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The reasons are not wholly understood; many other developed economies are not experiencing this shift (though Finland, America and possibly Denmark seem to be).

The Economist

The history of our time won't be wholly understood for years, but one can nonetheless wonder if the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and their aftershocks, may one day be seen as a turning point toward disaster.

The New Yorker

Numerical simulations have been powerful tools to study the fully nonlinear evolution of EPBs, which cannot be wholly understood from theoretical predictions.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

While we smiled at our little man's astute assessment of the Pledge of Allegiance to be a "prayer," we wholly understood our children's outrage, applauding and backing them up with our indignation.

Huffington Post

The link between medication and delirium is not wholly understood.

Critical Care

Complex systems are loosely defined as systems with properties that cannot be wholly understood by understanding the parts of the system [ 23].

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"But, with Plenty, there's still something in it I don't wholly understand..."....

Independent

An American married to a Lebanese woman struggles to adapt to a society he does not wholly understand.

The Guardian - Books

"We wholly understand that everyone makes mistakes, but Zara, as an ambassador for Miss Great Britain, simply did not uphold the responsibility expected of the title".

The Guardian

While I personally don't consume honey and haven't done for many years, I can wholly understand why some self-proclaimed vegans have no issue in purchasing local, raw honey.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet they are full of daring, ready for adventures that plunge them into unfamiliar settings and strange, dislocated relationships with people whose actions and words they observe, half-grasp but never wholly understand.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wholly understood", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being completely comprehended. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the subject matter.

Common error

Avoid using "wholly understood" if there's even a slight degree of uncertainty or remaining questions about a topic. Overstating comprehension can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly understood" functions as an adjectival modifier describing the state of something being completely and fully comprehended. It indicates a complete and thorough level of understanding, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wholly understood" is a grammatically correct and somewhat formal phrase used to indicate complete comprehension. Ludwig's analysis shows that it's most frequently found in scientific and news media contexts. To ensure clear and effective communication, be sure the context clarifies what is being comprehended and avoid overstating the degree of understanding. Consider alternatives such as "fully grasped" or "completely comprehended" for similar meanings. Remember, as confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is perfectly usable in various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully grasped

Replaces "understood" with a more active verb, emphasizing comprehension.

completely comprehended

Substitutes both words for synonyms, stressing thorough understanding.

entirely grasped

Replaces "wholly" with "entirely", which has a same function.

perfectly clear

Shifts the focus to clarity rather than the act of understanding.

comprehensively known

Similar to "completely comprehended" but using 'known' to indicate complete awareness.

absolutely clear

Focuses on the lack of ambiguity rather than the process of understanding itself.

thoroughly digested

Uses a metaphor to convey complete understanding, implying assimilation of information.

fully internalized

Suggests a deeper level of understanding where the information is fully integrated into one's knowledge.

unquestionably known

Emphasizes the certainty of knowledge, rather than the process of understanding.

without any doubt understood

Adds an intensifier phrase to highlight the certainty of comprehension.

FAQs

How can I use "wholly understood" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly understood" to describe concepts, processes, or situations that are completely comprehended. For example, "The implications of the new policy are "fully understood" by the team."

What are some alternatives to "wholly understood"?

Alternatives include "fully grasped", "completely comprehended", or "entirely grasped". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "wholly understood" or "completely understood"?

Both "wholly understood" and "completely understood" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Wholly" might be considered slightly more formal or emphatic, but the difference is minimal. The choice depends on the desired tone and style.

What does it mean when something is described as "not wholly understood"?

When something is "not wholly understood", it means that while there is some level of comprehension, there are still aspects or details that are unclear or not completely grasped. This indicates a partial, rather than complete, understanding.