broader explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

"broader explanation" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain something in more detail than what has already been said. For example, "I gave my students a brief overview of the assignment, but they will need a broader explanation during tomorrow's lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"He kept maintaining it was a clock, but there was no broader explanation".

The Guardian - Tech

A broader explanation would be that contemporary America is a society that, in a variety of ways, doesn't take very good care of its children.

The New York Times

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

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

But especially when we are confronting the rapidly changing work that Picasso was doing between the two world wars, I think it is natural to seek some broader explanation of all these stylistic shifts.

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Beyond the growth of gang culture and the demise of individual responsibility, no credible broader explanations were offered for their behaviour.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mapping arguments helps students to visualize their reasoning line and to detect easier, among other things, co-premisas or co-reasons (broader explanations and explicit inferences) and evidence (support reasons for other reasons) needed in their argumentation.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Lawmakers say they are worried that the 10-member Mishap Interagency Investigation Board, which has 5 members with military backgrounds and 2 from United States transportation agencies, could focus too closely on the technical causes of the shuttle's disintegration and not look into broader explanations behind the loss of the spacecraft.

The New York Times

This had led some to propose broader explanations for the safer streets, such as reduced exposure to lead, which can make people more violent; increasing gentrification; or a preference among young hoodlums for playing video games.For their part, both New York and Washington continue to innovate, applying technology and forming partnerships with the business community.

The Economist

Broader explanations pointing at the dominance of elites or the utilitarian approaches embedded in planning cultures should be tested within specific urban contexts.

Global Environmental Change

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "broader explanation" to connect specific details to overarching themes or concepts, providing a more holistic understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "broader explanation" as a mere placeholder. Make sure the "broader explanation" delivers substantive insights, not just generalities. If you cannot improve your explanation, consider removing this phrase from your text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broader explanation" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "broader" modifies the noun "explanation". It indicates that the explanation being offered is more comprehensive and covers a wider range of aspects than a previous, narrower one. Ludwig confirms its usability and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "broader explanation" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as validated by Ludwig, suitable for introducing a more comprehensive account of something. While not exceedingly common, it's found across diverse contexts like News & Media and Science, indicating its versatility. When using this phrase, ensure you genuinely expand on prior points. Alternatives such as "more comprehensive explanation" or "more detailed explanation" offer nuanced ways to express the same idea. Be wary of using it as mere filler; the "broader explanation" should provide substantive insights, not just generalities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more comprehensive explanation

Replaces "broader" with "more comprehensive" to emphasize the completeness of the explanation.

more extensive explanation

Substitutes "broader" with "more extensive" to highlight the wide-ranging nature of the explanation.

fuller explanation

Replaces "broader" with "fuller" to suggest a more complete and detailed account.

more detailed explanation

Substitutes "broader" with "more detailed" to focus on the level of granularity in the explanation.

expanded explanation

Replaces "broader" with "expanded" to emphasize the growth and enlargement of the explanation.

wider explanation

Uses "wider" instead of "broader", focusing on the scope and reach of the explanation.

more complete account

Shifts from "explanation" to "account" while maintaining the emphasis on thoroughness.

deeper understanding

Focuses on the outcome of the explanation (understanding) rather than the explanation itself, implying greater insight.

elaborated explanation

Replaces "broader" with "elaborated" suggesting that the explanation has been developed in greater detail.

enhanced explanation

Substitutes "broader" with "enhanced" suggesting that the explanation has been improved or made better.

FAQs

How can I use "broader explanation" in a sentence?

You can use "broader explanation" to introduce a more detailed or comprehensive account of something. For example, "The initial report was brief; a broader explanation will follow next week."

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

Alternatives to "broader explanation" include "more comprehensive explanation", "more detailed explanation", or "fuller explanation", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "broader explanation"?

It's appropriate to use "broader explanation" when you want to provide a more complete or wide-ranging account than what has already been presented. This is especially useful when connecting specifics to general concepts.

What is the difference between "broader explanation" and "detailed explanation"?

"Broader explanation" implies a wider scope, covering more aspects, while "detailed explanation" focuses on depth and granularity within a specific area. For example, you can use the "detailed explanation", to focus better on one or few aspects.