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Very often when a person describes his point he asks the audience a question.

Does it make sense?

Is it correct to rephrase it as "Is it understandable?"

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Rather than does it make sense or is it understandable, I'd use that (where that refers to what you've just explained.) Using it here is common among native speakers, but not idiomatic.

Otherwise the two do mean the same thing in this context, yes! "Does that make sense?" or "Does everybody get that?" would be common things to say in this context, and they do essentially mean "Was what I just said understandable?"

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  • So, may I interpret the phrase "Does it make sense" like "Do you get it"?
    – Warlock
    Sep 8, 2013 at 4:29
  • @Warlock: Yes. That is exactly what "does that make sense?" means.
    – Matt
    Sep 8, 2013 at 11:18
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These aren't exactly synonymous, although they are close. "Does it make sense?" seems more restrictive.

Something nonsensical can be understandable. For example, consider the question:

"I can hear the toothpaste singing, can you?"

Is that understandable? Yes, I can understand what you are asking.

Does that make sense? Not really – toothpaste doesn't sing.

"Make sense" and "sensible" here mean "tell a coherent story," or "be consistent and reasonable," or something similar.

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    It might be good to explain the meaning of the phrase "make sense" and "nonsensical"; the asker seems to be hung up on this in particular. Sep 7, 2013 at 16:24

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