Needs no explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Needs no explanation" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when something is obvious or self-explanatory. Example: "Her talent is evident; it needs no explanation." Alternative expressions include "self-explanatory" and "speaks for itself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Mariano Rivera needs no explanation.

The New York Times

This at least needs no explanation.

Independent

Or perhaps Matsui needs no explanation at all.

The New York Times - Sports

Their radicalism needs no explanation; it simply casts a spell.

The New York Times - Arts

But his name probably needs no explanation now.

The New York Times

Iverson said he needs no explanation from Brown as to why he left.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Unless, of course, I consult the reams of messianic exegesis that Beuys - 'art needs no explanations' - left behind.

The Guardian - Arts

Ruland's references needed no explanation.

The New York Times - Sports

The most powerful images need no explanation at all.

The New York Times - Arts

(A few omissions need no explanation, including Linda Lovelace and David Berkowitz).

The New York Times

"It had to be a project that needed no explanation.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place this phrase at the end of a descriptive sentence to act as a powerful punchline for something that is visually or logically overwhelming.

Common error

Avoid following the phrase with a long, detailed explanation of the very thing you just said requires none. Doing so creates a logical contradiction and weakens the rhetorical impact of the phrase.

Linguistic Context

Determined by Ludwig as a verb phrase functioning as a predicate, the expression "needs no explanation" asserts that the subject is sufficiently clear, famous or intuitive to the audience without further linguistic input.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Professional

18%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs no explanation" is a robust and highly effective linguistic tool used to signal that a subject is inherently understood. Ludwig AI reveals that it is most prevalent in high-level journalism, where it serves to introduce cultural icons, significant events or intuitive logical results. It is grammatically sound and carries a tone of confidence. To maximize its impact, writers should ensure they do not immediately follow it with the very explanation they claimed was unnecessary, as this undermines the rhetorical weight of the expression. Whether used in a formal scientific report or a viral news story, it remains a clear and concise way to acknowledge self-evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

speaks for itself

shifts focus to the evidence provided by the subject rather than the observer's understanding

is self-explanatory

uses an adjective phrase to describe an inherent quality of the subject

goes without saying

implies that the fact is so universally accepted that mentioning it is redundant

requires no clarification

adopts a more formal and precise tone often found in technical or legal contexts

needs no introduction

specifically refers to the fame or reputation of a person or entity

is crystal clear

uses a common idiom to emphasize absolute transparency

is patently obvious

adds an intensifier to emphasize that the fact cannot be missed

needs no further comment

suggests that additional words would detract from the point being made

is evident

provides a concise and formal alternative suitable for academic writing

doesn't need spelling out

uses a more idiomatic and conversational tone

FAQs

How to use "Needs no explanation" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicate to describe a subject that is inherently clear. For example, "Her talent is immense and "needs no explanation"."

What can I say instead of "Needs no explanation"?

Depending on your context, you might use "speaks for itself", "is self-explanatory" or "goes without saying".

Which is correct, "Needs no explanation" or "is self-explanatory"?

Both are correct. ""needs no explanation"" is a verb phrase that emphasizes the lack of necessity for more words, while "is self-explanatory" is an adjective phrase describing the subject's nature.

What is the difference between "Needs no explanation" and "needs no introduction"?

""needs no explanation"" refers to the clarity of a concept, while "needs no introduction" is usually reserved for famous people who are already well-known to the audience.