“Is this understanding correct?” anything more polite than this?

Question

Do we have a more polite way to say “Is this understanding correct?”.
I often find it a little tough question to ask to clients.

Anything that sounds more polite and means the same? And also, is the above question grammatically correct?

Andrew Leach · Accepted Answer

To confirm whether you have understood the client's issue, the question is fine, if not particularly idiomatic.

So, you have problems A and B, and you need to do C as well. Is this understanding correct?

There's nothing wrong with that. You could alter the question slightly:

Is my understanding correct?
  Have I got that right?
  Is there anything else?

If you want to find out whether they have understood, you might need to be a little more tangential. For example, don't say this:

That means you will need to do A and B in order that C can be made available. Do you understand?

That may well be considered rude. You'd need to ask about how you have handled the situation.

Have I explained that well enough?
  Is there anything else I need to tell you?

notablytipsy · Answer

If you're talking about your understanding of what someone else has said

"Is what I have understood correct?"

If you're talking about their understanding of what you've said

"Have you understood?"

neil · Answer

I would try "Is my understanding of this correct?".  That subtly implies that the possible fault lies with you not them.

3 Answers