adequately explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adequately explain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has been explained in a sufficient or satisfactory manner. Example: "The report should adequately explain the reasons for the project's delay to ensure all stakeholders are informed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And Moyes cannot adequately explain why.

Independent

A biographer needs to adequately explain these presidential accomplishments.

The New York Times - Books

Quasi-static analysis cannot adequately explain these engineering problems.

International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

My concern is that the footnotes don't adequately explain the transactions.

The New York Times

It is hard to adequately explain just what Le Monde means to France.

The New Yorker

It does not adequately explain how middle-class women stole working-class men's life chances.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nor could they adequately explain why they had been sitting on this urgent evidence since 2004.

The New York Times

Disregard for facts characterises the hard Brexiteer creed but doesn't adequately explain it.

The Guardian - Opinion

These hypotheses do not adequately explain the patterns of change in Fiji.

Princeton University

Nor does the dissent's interpretation of standing adequately explain cases such as Schlesinger and Richardson.

Cornell University

Does the presence of a shared Islamicate past adequately explain Indian and Arab Muslim affiliations?

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before employing the phrase, consider if a stronger verb like 'elucidate' or 'demonstrate' would be more impactful and suitable for your writing's objective.

Common error

Avoid using "adequately explain" when the explanation is clearly incomplete or superficial. This can create a mismatch between your claim and the actual depth of explanation provided, undermining your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adequately explain" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It signifies the action of providing an explanation that meets a certain standard of sufficiency. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adequately explain" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the act of providing a sufficient explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure your explanation meets the audience's needs and expectations. Alternatives like "sufficiently elucidate" or "satisfactorily clarify" can be used to add nuance. Avoid overstating the completeness of the explanation to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently elucidate

Emphasizes thoroughness and clarity in the explanation.

satisfactorily clarify

Highlights the completeness and clearing of the explanation.

properly account for

Focuses on giving a correct account or reason for something.

thoroughly explicate

Implies a detailed and comprehensive explanation.

convincingly demonstrate

Adds the element of persuading someone through explanation.

clearly articulate

Stresses the importance of expressing something distinctly and understandably.

effectively interpret

Shifts the focus to providing a useful understanding of something.

comprehensively detail

Emphasizes providing an exhaustive amount of information.

fully elaborate

Implies expanding on a point until it is completely understood.

accurately portray

Stresses the truthfulness and precision of the explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "adequately explain" in a sentence?

You can use "adequately explain" to indicate that something has been explained sufficiently. For example, "The report should adequately explain the project's goals".

What are some alternatives to "adequately explain"?

Alternatives include "sufficiently elucidate", "satisfactorily clarify", or "properly account for" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "adequately explain" or "fully explain"?

"Adequately explain" implies a sufficient level of detail, while "fully explain" suggests a more exhaustive explanation. The best choice depends on the context and the level of detail required.

What does it mean for something to "adequately explain" something else?

It means the explanation provides enough detail and clarity to make the subject understandable or acceptable to the intended audience. It meets a certain threshold of sufficiency.