care to explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "care to explain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to ask someone to explain something that is unclear. For example, "Care to explain why you made that decision?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Care to explain?

The New Yorker

5. Do you care to explain this, C Fackrell?

The New Yorker

But McEwan takes care to explain that he has no problem with gender reassignment.

The Guardian - Books

He reports his ordeal straightforwardly, always taking care to explain technical procedures in easily understood terms.

The New York Times - Books

Would he at least care to explain the ideas behind his collection?

The New York Times

But he had a reason to be cruel, and Ms. Lippman takes care to explain it.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

(Neither Pearson, the test's publisher, nor the Department of Education has cared to explain the edits).

The New Yorker

The Duma hesitated until Mr Yeltsin cared to explain what sort of government he wanted Mr Kiriyenko to form.

The Economist

By Ben McGrath In 1998, a local man, aged forty, requested a legal name change for reasons that he no longer cares to explain.

The New Yorker

In 1998, a local man, aged forty, requested a legal name change for reasons that he no longer cares to explain.

The New Yorker

From statehouses to Capitol Hill, frustration is building and spilling out during closed-door meetings as Republicans press leaders of the effort to block funding for the health care law to explain where their strategy is ultimately leading.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "care to explain" when you want a direct, but not overly aggressive, request for clarification. It's suitable in both professional and informal settings where a straightforward explanation is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "care to explain" in highly formal or sensitive situations where a more polite and indirect approach is necessary. Phrases like "would you mind explaining" or "could you elaborate" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "care to explain" functions as an interrogative, directly prompting someone for an explanation. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in demanding clarification or justification.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "care to explain" is a grammatically correct and frequently used interrogative phrase employed to directly request clarification or justification. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for many contexts, particularly in news and media where directness is valued. While effective, it's advisable to use alternatives like "would you mind explaining" in more formal settings. Remember to consider the audience and context to maintain an appropriate tone. Overusing "care to explain" in sensitive situations can come across as accusatory. Ultimately, this phrase serves as a straightforward means of prompting someone to provide an explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

please explain

A simple and direct request for clarification.

would you mind explaining

More polite and less direct than the original phrase.

could you elaborate

Asks for more detail or information, focusing on expanding understanding.

can you give me more details

Asks for more information in a polite manner.

can you clarify

Focuses on making something clearer or easier to understand.

explain yourself

More direct and potentially confrontational, demanding an immediate explanation.

what's the explanation

Shifts the focus to the existence of an explanation, rather than directly asking the person to explain.

why is that

Seeks the reason behind something, often used when surprised or confused.

what's the reasoning behind that

Asks specifically for the logical justification for a decision or action.

how do you justify that

Challenges the person to provide a defensible explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "care to explain" in a sentence?

You can use "care to explain" to directly ask someone for clarification. For example, "Care to explain why you made that decision?" or "Anyone "care to explain why" this happened?"

What's a more polite alternative to "care to explain"?

If you're seeking a more polite phrasing, consider alternatives such as "would you mind explaining", "could you elaborate", or "can you clarify".

When is it inappropriate to use "care to explain"?

Avoid using "care to explain" in very formal or sensitive settings. A more diplomatic phrasing might be required to avoid sounding accusatory or confrontational.

Is "care to explain" grammatically correct?

Yes, "care to explain" is grammatically correct and commonly used, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a direct, albeit somewhat informal, way to request an explanation.