widen understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of expanding someone's knowledge or comprehension about a particular topic. Example: "The workshop aims to widen understanding of climate change and its impacts on our environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Some will not – but books are there to educate about the world, to explain difficult issues, to widen understanding.

The Guardian - Books

Adopt a "comprehensive communications strategy" to widen understanding of EU policy on settlements – including the EU's opposition to a boycott of Israel itself.

The Guardian

Systematic investigation of the varying temporal and societal context of ageing has the potential to widen understanding of the interplay between individual lives and changing social structures.

BMJ Open

Also included were 38 local district opinion and political leaders and health center supervisors to widen understanding of the new system.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Only then can young lives be turned around, horizons widened, understanding and empathy deepened.

The Guardian - Books

"There's an increasingly widening understanding of the variety of cultural markets and people's tastes for small local theaters, different size venues that produce different kinds of cultural events," said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation, which has given Lincoln Center a $15 million grant for its redevelopment project.

The New York Times - Arts

This book shows how fruitful a gendered take on issues within this area is, both for a deepened understanding of these organizational issues and for a widened understanding of gender issues.

Springer

The widened understanding of the nutritional benefits of vegetables made them to be consumed in daily meals around the world almost every day (Gomez and Ricketts 2013; Southon 2000; Wargovich 2000).

International Journal of Food Contamination

Given a widening understanding of health and the factors affecting prospects for population health, public health can be viewed as being so expansive as to have no meaningful institutional, disciplinary or social boundaries.

SEP

We aren't preaching; we are trying to widen their understanding so they make more rational decisions".

The Guardian

Further identification will widen our understanding of virulence regulation by variety of functional RNAs in S. aureus.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "widen understanding", focus on providing diverse perspectives and clear explanations to ensure accessibility for a broad audience.

Common error

Avoid claiming to "widen understanding" without specifying the target audience or the specific area of knowledge being expanded. Be precise about who will benefit and what they will learn.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen understanding" functions as a verb phrase, where "widen" acts as a transitive verb and "understanding" serves as its direct object. This indicates the action of expanding or increasing one's comprehension of a subject. As affirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widen understanding" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe the process of expanding one's comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, particularly in academic, scientific, and news-related domains. While alternatives like "expand comprehension" or "broaden knowledge" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to specify the scope and target audience to ensure clear and effective communication. The frequency of this phrase is uncommon, marking it as a good choice when aiming for clarity and precision. Also, keep in mind its difference with "increase knowledge" as the former implies grasping the implications and context of that information and the latter focuses more on the accumulation of facts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand comprehension

Focuses more directly on cognitive processes involved in grasping a subject.

broaden knowledge

Emphasizes the accumulation of facts and information.

deepen insight

Suggests a more profound and nuanced understanding.

enhance awareness

Highlights the process of becoming more conscious or informed.

improve perception

Focuses on altering or refining one's interpretation of information.

cultivate appreciation

Implies a gradual development of valuing and understanding something.

foster awareness

Emphasizes creating or promoting understanding among a group.

promote comprehension

Suggests actively encouraging or facilitating understanding.

sharpen discernment

Indicates the refining of one's ability to distinguish and judge.

increase apprehension

Focuses on gaining a basic grasp or initial understanding of a topic. Note that the word apprehension can also refer to anxiety so be mindful of context.

FAQs

How can I use "widen understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "widen understanding" to describe the action of increasing knowledge or comprehension about a particular subject. For example, "Educational programs aim to "widen understanding" of climate change."

What's a good alternative to "widen understanding"?

Alternatives include "expand comprehension", "broaden knowledge", or "deepen insight" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "widen understanding" differ from "increase knowledge"?

"Widen understanding" implies not only gaining more information, but also grasping the implications and context of that information. "Increase knowledge" focuses more on the accumulation of facts.

Is it better to say "widen understanding" or "broaden understanding"?

Both "widen understanding" and "broaden understanding" are correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific context, as they carry very similar meanings.