be specific with

USAGE SUMMARY

"be specific with" is a grammatically correct phrase and is commonly used in written English.
It means to provide clear and detailed information about something. Example: Please be specific with your instructions so that we can accurately complete the task.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Look at what is realistically possible and be specific with yourself about what you can and cannot do that day.

The New York Times

Hoffman made an impression on me then, as he continued to do in his later roles, as someone who was more than familiar with the forces of darkness in himself — to be specific, with the nub of chagrined self-loathing that impels many of his best moments on film and on stage.

The New Yorker

"I'm not the kind of guy who has a lot of regrets," he said, and again he explained his unwillingness to be specific with Wallace as a product of the medium — television — rather than any obfuscation on his part.

The New York Times

The biobank can be specific with regard to this data.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

To be specific, with we can achieve the weighted fairness among the sessions while maximizing the aggregated system throughput.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

If you click on this link, you'll download a special "super-early" build of Firefox (Firefox 4 beta, to be specific) with Tab Candy.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

"I was specific with him.

The New York Times

Iranian activists regularly find ways to circumvent such obstructions, but on this occasion the targeting was specific, with a view to curtailing any challenge to the anniversary celebrations.

The Guardian - Opinion

And they were specific with targets including Westgate".

BBC

The early Chinese qualitative and quantitative sciences were specific, with no unified notion of science (Sivin 1982 and 1990).

SEP

The melting curve was specific with the correlation coefficient of 0.995 and that the amplification efficiency was 93.8%.

Journal of Integrative Agriculture

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving instructions or feedback, "be specific with" examples to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations. This can save time and improve outcomes.

Common error

Avoid vague requests like "improve your performance". Instead, "be specific with" measurable goals such as "increase sales by 10% next quarter" or "reduce customer complaints by 15% next month".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be specific with" primarily functions as an imperative construction, urging the listener or reader to provide detailed and unambiguous information. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples from various sources such as news articles and scientific publications illustrate the direct use of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

32%

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be specific with" is a commonly used phrase that serves as a direct command to provide detailed and unambiguous information. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for a variety of contexts, as demonstrated through a range of examples from news, science, and wiki sources. While maintaining a neutral to informal tone, it emphasizes the importance of clarity and precision in communication. To enhance your writing, remember to use specific examples and avoid vague requests to ensure your message is clearly understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide detailed information

This focuses on giving a lot of information without necessarily implying a direct interaction or instruction.

offer precise details

This emphasizes accuracy and exactness in the information given.

give explicit instructions

This alternative is tailored to situations that require clear directions, implying clarity and a call to action.

be precise in your communication

This highlights the need for accuracy and avoiding ambiguity in any form of exchange.

clarify your requirements

This focuses on making needs and expectations understandable, primarily in a request-based scenario.

spell out the specifics

This is more informal and direct, implying that all details should be explicitly stated.

articulate your needs

This emphasizes expressing needs or desires clearly and effectively, often in a more formal context.

furnish concrete examples

This calls for providing tangible instances or illustrations to support a point or explain a concept.

state your intentions clearly

This alternative emphasizes transparency and ensuring that one's purposes are easily understood.

define your objectives

This focuses on setting clear goals and outcomes, often used in a business or strategic planning context.

FAQs

How can I use "be specific with" in a sentence?

You can use "be specific with" to emphasize the importance of detail and clarity in your communication or instructions. For example, "When asking for help, "be specific with" the problem you're facing".

What does "be specific with" mean?

"Be specific with" means to provide clear, detailed, and unambiguous information about something. It encourages detailed and direct communication to avoid confusion.

What are some alternatives to "be specific with"?

Alternatives to "be specific with" include "provide detailed information", "offer precise details", or "give explicit instructions", depending on the context.

Is it better to "be specific with" instructions or keep them general?

It is generally better to "be specific with" instructions to ensure that they are clearly understood and followed correctly. Specific instructions reduce ambiguity and the likelihood of errors.