clarify for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clarify for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain something for the benefit of another person. For example: "Let me clarify for you why I think this is the best option."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Rather, clarify for yourself what you need.

University of California, Berkeley

Let's clarify for the sake of relations between the sexes.

The New York Times

By way of explanation you tweeted: "Just to clarify for uptight people stuck in the past.

The Guardian

Now you can clarify for them exactly what action they can take to show their support.

Harvard Business Review

It took a friend to clarify for me that finding a story is not the same as creating one".

The Guardian - Film

Should companies that receive a moderate score take more effort to clarify for investors whether the CEO left voluntarily?

Stanford University

"But Joe Lhota's candidacy will further clarify for voters that Bill de Blasio is the clear progressive alternative for 2013".

The New York Times

New regulations are needed (to clarify, for instance, whether pension funds can invest with an explicitly social purpose).

The Economist

It was irresponsible of them to waste the opportunity to clarify for the American people the views of the candidates on matters of importance.

The New York Times

Your article helped to clarify for me why the Bush campaign might have believed that it was able to decode my political DNA.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

[?? Ask author to clarify.] For Khayyam, there are two discourses, each of which pertains to one dimension of human existence: philosophical and poetic.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clarify for" when you want to explicitly state that you are providing an explanation or making something understandable for a specific person or group.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "clarify for" excessively in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "explain" or even directness can be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clarify for" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an explanation or restatement aimed at making something more understandable for a specific individual or group. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Science

16%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clarify for" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase to indicate that an explanation is being provided to make something understandable for a specific person or group. As Ludwig AI explains, it is widely applicable across various registers, though simpler alternatives may be preferred in very informal settings. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. Therefore, use "clarify for" to explicitly state that the following information is meant to aid someone's understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarify to

Similar to "clarify for" but emphasizes the action directed towards the person being informed.

elucidate for

Focuses on bringing light or clarity to a complex topic specifically for someone's understanding.

illuminate for

Suggests shedding light on a subject for someone, often implying a deeper understanding.

explain to

A general way of describing the act of making something understandable to someone.

spell out for

Implies providing very detailed and explicit information to ensure understanding.

make clear to

Highlights the act of ensuring something is easily understood by someone.

interpret for

Suggests providing an explanation of the meaning of something for someone.

define for

Focuses on providing a precise meaning or explanation for someone.

simplify for

Emphasizes making something less complex and easier to understand for someone.

demystify for

Implies removing the mystery or confusion surrounding something for someone.

FAQs

How can I use "clarify for" in a sentence?

You can use "clarify for" to introduce an explanation aimed at making something easier to understand for someone. For example, "Let me "clarify for" you the steps involved in this process."

What are some alternatives to "clarify for"?

Alternatives include "explain to", "elucidate for", or "make clear to", depending on the context and the level of formality.

Is it redundant to say "clarify for me"?

While not strictly redundant, it can sometimes be more concise to simply use "clarify". However, "clarify for me" emphasizes that the clarification is specifically for your benefit, which can be useful in certain situations.

What's the difference between "clarify for" and "clarify to"?

"Clarify for" emphasizes the benefit to the recipient of the clarification, while "clarify to" focuses on the act of making something clear to someone. They are often interchangeable, but "clarify for" is generally more common.