How to use "on the understanding that"

What Does "on the understanding that" Mean?

• Grammatical function: It expresses a condition or stipulation upon which an agreement, action, or decision is based. It indicates that something is accepted or agreed to, provided that a certain condition is met.
• Typical sentence position: It can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, depending on what is being emphasized.
• Register: Formal

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: It is followed by a clause that states the condition. It's often preceded by a main clause that describes the action or agreement being made.
• Punctuation rules: A comma is often used to separate the main clause from the "on the understanding that" clause, especially when it introduces the condition.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence, but this is less common. It can be moved, but the meaning might shift slightly. It's not typically negated directly; rather, the condition it introduces might be phrased negatively.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using it in very informal contexts or with overly simplistic conditions might sound stilted. Avoid using it when a more direct conditional like "if" or "provided that" suffices.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from on the understanding that on Ludwig.guru.

"The industry was one of men creating products on the understanding that makeup was for seduction," she says." — The Guardian - Film

"He was persuaded to come to London on the understanding that he would be protected." — The Guardian - Opinion

"So, on the understanding that he practised the piano every day, I hired him." — The Guardian - Film

"Young people are sent to courts on the understanding that they'll still be on a pathway to rehabilitation," he said." — The Guardian

"Palestinian officials say they accepted the plan on the understanding that it would be imposed on both sides." — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/on+the+understanding+that

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
provided that	More common and slightly less formal; emphasizes a condition.
on condition that	Similar in meaning, but slightly stronger emphasis on the condition.
assuming that	Implies a supposition or hypothesis.
with the proviso that	More formal and legalistic.
if and only if	Stresses a strict bidirectional dependency.
given that	Introduces a premise that is taken as fact.
subject to the condition that	Highly formal and often used in legal or contractual contexts.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrectly using "of" instead of "on", resulting in "understanding of that".
• Omitting the "that" clause, leaving the condition unclear.
• Learners often confuse it with similar phrases like "understanding of" or use it in contexts where a simpler conjunction like "if" or "provided that" would be more appropriate.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
on the understanding that	Expresses a condition or stipulation	Formal	Initial or medial

FAQs

Where can "on the understanding that" appear in a sentence?

On the understanding that can appear at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the condition, or in the middle, following the main clause. The position often depends on which part of the sentence the speaker or writer wants to emphasize. For example, "On the understanding that you will be quiet, you may enter," or "You may enter, on the understanding that you will be quiet."

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How does "on the understanding that" differ from "provided that"?

Both phrases introduce a condition, but "on the understanding that" is generally more formal and implies a clearer agreement or stipulation. "Provided that" is more common and can be used in a wider range of contexts, while "on the understanding that" suggests a more explicit and perhaps negotiated agreement.

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What's a common mistake to avoid when using "on the understanding that"?

A common mistake is using a simpler conjunction like "if" when "on the understanding that" is not necessary. Also, learners sometimes confuse it with similar phrases like "understanding of" or use it in contexts where a simpler conjunction like "if" or "provided that" would be more appropriate. Choose the simpler option unless you specifically want to convey the formal and stipulated nature of the condition.