ability to elaborate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to elaborate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity to provide more detail or explanation on a topic. Example: "Her ability to elaborate on complex subjects makes her an excellent teacher."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She has little ability to elaborate.

The New Yorker

The most popular vocal form of the late Baroque, the da capo aria, has a first section, a second section contrasting in melody and sometimes key and tempo, then an exact repetition of the first section, which provided a showcase for the singer's ability to elaborate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This effect is based on the observation that while increasing skill increases the quality of decisions (in medical practitioners, for example), other factors, such as the recall of individual case information and the ability to elaborate more extensively on such cases, peaks for the 'skilled' subjects but were equally low for both the 'expert' and and the 'novice' groups.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

The ability to elaborate information independently from the background beliefs of individuals that these two properties allow Fodor to give an atomistic and causal account of the notion of mental content.

Wikipedia

This limited our ability to elaborate on between-group differences in risk for hypertension due to occupational exposure.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Lack of insight is defined as lack of the ability to elaborate on the experience of a disease, label the symptoms of the disease as pathological, or have knowledge of the deeper effects that the symptoms or disease will have on one's environment [ 92].

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

More precisely, they are related to the teams' ability to collectively elaborate a trade-off between "understanding" and "doing".

Applied Ergonomics

Moreover, O-GlcNAc protein modifications are involved in regulating the numbers of axonal filopodia and the ability of axons to elaborate branches.

Developmental Neurobiology

Thus, the ability of EndoS to elaborate oxime-GlcNAc within the aldehyde tag motif on the Fc was an open question.

Bioconjugate Chemistry

To address the physiological relevance of activity-dependent transcription of the miR379 410 cluster, we therefore tested whether perturbation of miR379 410 members affected the ability of neurons to elaborate the dendritic tree in response to activity.

EMBO Journal

Their latest trick exploits web browsers' ability to draw elaborate graphics, and uses it to identify users.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ability to elaborate" when you want to emphasize someone's capacity to provide detailed explanations or expand on a topic effectively. For example, "Her ability to elaborate on complex concepts made the lecture engaging".

Common error

Avoid using "ability to elaborate" in contexts where simpler terms like "explain" or "describe" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to elaborate" functions as a noun phrase, describing a specific skill or capacity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is often used to highlight someone's aptitude for providing detailed explanations, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to elaborate" is a grammatically correct and useful expression to describe someone's capacity to provide detailed explanations. Ludwig AI confirms its valid usage. While it is more common in formal and scientific contexts, as evidenced by sources like BMC Genomics and The New Yorker, it should be used judiciously to avoid unnecessary verbosity. Remember, alternatives such as "capacity to detail" or "skill in explaining" can be more suitable depending on the context. Mastering the nuances of when and how to use "ability to elaborate" can significantly enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to detail

Focuses on the extent of detail one can provide.

skill in explaining

Highlights the expertise in making something understandable.

aptitude for exposition

Emphasizes a natural talent for clear and thorough presentation.

potential for amplification

Stresses the possibility of expanding on a topic.

facility with specification

Highlights ease and precision in defining something clearly.

capability for amplification

Focuses on the power and room for growth.

power to expound

Highlights the ability to explain methodically and in detail.

talent for illustrating

Highlights the ability to make something clear by using pictures or examples.

knack for developing

Highlights the natural tendency and capacity to grow ideas.

competence in expounding

Emphasizes proficiency and skill in methodical explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to elaborate" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to elaborate" to describe someone's capacity to provide detailed explanations. For example, "The speaker's "ability to elaborate" made the presentation very informative".

What are some alternatives to "ability to elaborate"?

Some alternatives include "capacity to detail", "skill in explaining", or "aptitude for exposition", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "ability to elaborate" or simply "ability to explain"?

"Ability to explain" is more general, while ""ability to elaborate"" implies a capacity to provide extensive details and expand on a topic. The best choice depends on the context and the level of detail you want to emphasize.

In what contexts is "ability to elaborate" most appropriate?

The phrase ""ability to elaborate"" is suitable in formal or academic contexts where detailed explanations and comprehensive discussions are expected. It may be less appropriate in informal settings where simpler language is preferred.