a broad explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a broad explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to describe an explanation that covers a wide range of information or concepts without going into too much detail. Example: "In order to understand the topic better, the professor provided a broad explanation of the key concepts involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

While the desire engine is generic enough for a broad explanation of habit formation, I'll focus on applications in consumer Internet for this post.

TechCrunch

While decomposition indices based on initial litter quality provide a broad explanation of quantitative and qualitative decomposition, they can only be taken as first approximations.

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

WQI helps to give one value to the water quality from a source of physical and chemical parameters by converting the list of parameters and their concentrations to a single value, which in turn provides a broad explanation of water quality and suitability for different purposes such as drinking, irrigation, and industrial.

Applied Water Science

Whether or not Xenophanes himself traveled to Syracuse, Paros, and Malta where these remains were found, his use of this information as the basis for a broad explanation of phenomena is an implicit testimonial to the heuristic value of information gained through travel and observation.

SEP

Ye followed up with a broad explanation of how Chinese and American cultural differences have helped to shape firms' management structures.

Huffington Post

Instead of reflecting the impact of specific causes of death, this pattern exists across many disparate disease conditions, indicating the need for a broad explanation.

Demographic Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Akira Matsuka Lippit, a professor of cinema at San Francisco State University, suggests that the current animal craze has a broader explanation than intense interest in snakes and potbellied pigs.

The New York Times - Arts

I would love the chance to offer a broader explanation of the amazing embrace of education by the newly freed blacks.

The New York Times - Books

As a result we sometimes overlook the more intractable problem that provides a broader explanation for the dearth of savvy holiday cheer on New York stages: such middle-of-the-road entertainment is in steep decline in the commercial theater.

The New York Times

Over the next three weeks, I will elaborate and reinforce what I am suggesting so you can look forward to a broader explanation of my approach.

Huffington Post

It will drive up the output gap -- that is, the difference between potential or full employment output and actual output, the latter being determined by the state of overall spending power in the economy (see here for a broader explanation).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a broad explanation", ensure the level of detail is appropriate for your audience. Avoid oversimplifying complex topics if a deeper understanding is needed.

Common error

Be careful not to use "a broad explanation" as an excuse for omitting crucial details. A summary should still be accurate and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a broad explanation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb. It describes the nature of an explanation being offered. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a broad explanation" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most frequently encountered in scientific, news media, and formal business contexts. While not extremely common, its purpose is clear: to provide a general overview without delving into excessive detail. When employing this phrase, ensure the level of detail aligns with your audience's needs, and avoid sacrificing accuracy for simplicity. Alternatives like "a general overview" or "a comprehensive explanation" may be suitable depending on the context. Ludwig AI also highlights that there are related reciprocal terms such as "a comprehensive explanation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general explanation

Replaces 'broad' with 'general', indicating a less detailed or specific explanation.

a wide-ranging explanation

Substitutes 'broad' with 'wide-ranging', emphasizing the extent of the explanation.

a comprehensive explanation

Uses 'comprehensive' instead of 'broad', highlighting the thoroughness of the explanation.

a general overview

Combines 'general' and 'overview' for a basic summary of the topic.

an overview

Offers a more concise summary, suitable when a detailed explanation isn't necessary.

an introductory explanation

Suitable for explanations intended to introduce a topic.

a sweeping explanation

Suggests an explanation that covers a lot of ground, possibly lacking in fine detail.

a basic rundown

Provides a simplified and informal explanation.

a bird's-eye view

Offers a high-level, general understanding, similar to an overview.

a surface-level explanation

Implies the explanation only covers the most obvious aspects.

FAQs

How do I use "a broad explanation" in a sentence?

You can use "a broad explanation" to introduce a general overview of a topic, like in the sentence, "The teacher gave "a broad explanation" of the theory before diving into the specifics."

What's a good alternative to "a broad explanation"?

Alternatives include "a general overview", "a wide-ranging explanation", or "a comprehensive explanation", depending on the context and desired level of detail.

When is it appropriate to use "a broad explanation"?

It's appropriate when introducing a topic, summarizing complex information, or providing context without getting bogged down in specifics.

Is "a broad explanation" the same as "a detailed explanation"?

No, "a broad explanation" provides a general overview, while a detailed explanation delves into specifics. They serve different purposes depending on the audience and the subject matter.