be more specific

USAGE SUMMARY

"be more specific" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to ask someone for more clarification or detail on something they have said. For example: "I don't understand what you mean." "Can you be more specific?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Let me be more specific.

The New York Times

Be more specific?

The New Yorker

Senator McCain declined to be more specific.

The New York Times

She declined to be more specific.

The New York Times

Perhaps customer service could be more specific.

The New Yorker

You could also be more specific.

The Economist

Mr. Gillinson declined to be more specific.

The New York Times - Arts

Related declined to be more specific.

The New York Times

He declines to be more specific.

The New York Times

He declined to be more specific.

The New York Times

GAR: Can you be more specific?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone to "be more specific", clearly state the aspect you need more information about. This helps the speaker focus their response and provides relevant details.

Common error

Avoid following "be more specific" with vague prompts. Instead of just repeating "tell me more", specify what aspect requires clarification, such as "be more specific about the timeline" or "be more specific regarding the budget allocation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be more specific" functions as an imperative, directly instructing the listener or reader to provide additional details or clarification. Ludwig's examples show its use in contexts where clarity is needed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be more specific" is a frequently used imperative phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, that directly requests further clarification or detail. It is grammatically correct and appropriate across various contexts, though it is mainly present in News & Media and Science domains. When using it, clarity and context are key. While direct, the examples show that it's a versatile phrase for ensuring understanding in many situations, as well as a lot of alternatives such as "provide more detail" or "elaborate further".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Provide more detail

This option is a straightforward request for additional information, focusing on the specifics.

Explain in more detail

This request focuses on the level of detail provided in the explanation.

Could you clarify?

This phrase is a polite way of asking for a clearer explanation of something.

Elaborate further

This alternative directly asks for more detail, implying the need for a more comprehensive explanation.

Offer a more precise explanation

This alternative emphasizes the need for accuracy and exactness in the explanation.

Be more explicit

This phrase requests a clearer, more direct and unambiguous statement.

Give a more thorough account

This suggests the need for a more complete and comprehensive description.

Expand on that

A more casual way to ask someone to provide more information about a specific point.

Detail your reasoning

This asks for a breakdown of the reasons or logic behind a statement or action.

Offer further insights

This seeks additional understanding or perspectives on the matter at hand.

FAQs

How can I politely ask someone to "be more specific"?

You can soften the request by saying, "Could you "provide more detail"?" or "Can you "elaborate further" on that point?". These options sound less demanding.

When is it appropriate to use "be more specific"?

It's appropriate when someone's statement is too general or lacks the necessary detail for you to understand or act upon it. However, ensure you're not interrupting or being disrespectful; timing and tone are important.

What's the difference between "be more specific" and "explain that"?

"Explain that" simply asks for an explanation, whereas "be more specific" requests a higher degree of detail and precision. The former seeks understanding; the latter seeks granular information.

How to use "be more specific" in a sentence?

You can use it in a direct request, such as "I need you to be more specific about your concerns" or as part of a question, for example, "Can you be more specific regarding the project timeline?". It is always commanding.