clarification was required

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clarification was required" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that additional information or explanation was necessary in a particular situation. Example: "During the meeting, it became clear that clarification was required on the project's objectives to ensure everyone was on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The preliminary search was conducted by FR with consultations held with JS (e.g. if clarification was required regarding the eligibility of a study).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

A statement on the Barnet website said:  "It was felt that clarification was required regarding the coaching responsibilities at the club.

BBC

In some instances additional clarification was required from the researchers of the partner countries.

BMC Public Health

Clarification was required by one of the authors as to who had filled out the ADHD symptom questionnaire, but no response was provided.

BMJ Open

Prescribing problems detected in the prescription preparation line were transferred to a second line where a pharmacist at a phone desk was available to investigate the problem and make contact with the prescriber if clarification was required.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The topic list and questions shown in Table 1 were based on the issues where the interviews showed different views or we felt that further clarification was required (e.g. on how the relationship changed) before this could be translated into a questionnaire to the entire study population.

BMC Nephrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"I'm going to play in the European Championships and then stop," was his brief, unqualified comment to reporters at full-time – and while further clarification is required, it is not unthinkable that he could be considering stepping away from the game at 34.

The Guardian - Sport

But again further clarification is required.

SEP

Dua added that typically regulators require two months to sign off on new products — like the Ola micro-insurance for passengers — but that communication lines remain ongoing, and often further clarification is required on Acko's part.

TechCrunch

However, as the experimental data are so limited, many aspects of the effect of salinity on the rate of CO2 diffusion are not well understood; further clarification is required to better understand the role of salinity on the rate of CO2 diffusion.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

The authors suggest that urgent clarification is required in the face of a growing number of algorithms in operation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clarification was required", ensure the context clearly indicates what specifically needed clarification. Be direct about the subject matter that was unclear.

Common error

Avoid using "clarification was required" without specifying what aspect needed clarification. For instance, instead of stating "clarification was required", specify "clarification of the project scope was required" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clarification was required" functions as a statement indicating that something needed to be made clearer. As supported by Ludwig, this passive construction is commonly used in formal and technical contexts to express a necessity for further explanation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "clarification was required" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, indicating that something needed further explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, noting its common use in formal and technical contexts. The expression is most frequently encountered in scientific and news media sources, suggesting a formal to neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject needing clarification is clearly specified to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "explanation was needed" or "further details were necessary", depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explanation was needed

Replaces "clarification" with "explanation", focusing on the act of explaining.

further details were necessary

Emphasizes the need for more specific information rather than general clarification.

additional information was requested

Highlights the request for more information to resolve ambiguity.

more information was needed

Focuses on the necessity of having more data or facts.

elaboration was essential

Stresses the importance of expanding on existing information.

further inquiry was necessary

Highlights the need for more questioning or investigation.

more precision was requested

Indicates a need for increased accuracy and detail in the information provided.

a clearer understanding was sought

Shifts the focus to the desired outcome of the clarification.

a better explanation was required

Highlights the need for an improved explanation.

more comprehensive details were requested

Focuses on the need for a more thorough and complete set of details.

FAQs

How can I use "clarification was required" in a sentence?

You can use "clarification was required" to indicate that something was unclear and needed further explanation, such as, "During the audit, "clarification was required" regarding the financial records".

What are some alternatives to "clarification was required"?

Alternatives include "explanation was needed", "further details were necessary", or "additional information was requested" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "clarification was required" or "clarification is required"?

The choice depends on the context. "Clarification was required" indicates that the need for clarification existed in the past, while "clarification is required" indicates it's a current need. For example, "Clarification was required after the first draft", versus, "Clarification is required before we proceed".

What's the difference between "clarification was required" and "more details were needed"?

"Clarification was required" suggests something was unclear or ambiguous, needing explanation. "More details were needed" suggests a lack of specific information, necessitating additional facts. They both express a need for additional data, but differ in what kind of data they're asking for. For example, we needed "clarification was required" about the procedure. Or, We needed "more details were needed" about their credentials.