clarify the misunderstanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clarify the misunderstanding" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "I asked my supervisor to clarify the misunderstanding between us so that we could move forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Reluctant to the last, Cohen, played by Chapman, is tragically unable to clarify the misunderstanding.

The Guardian - Film

Progress's entry into government received international attention, and to get rid of its reputation as a radical rightwing party, it even organised a press conference for foreign correspondents in Norway, to clarify the "misunderstanding" that they were anti-immigrant.

The Guardian - Opinion

They released this statement a few hours ago: This statement is to clarify the misunderstanding caused by a tweet from Flightradar24 on Malaysia Airlines' flight MH004 from Kuala Lumpur to London that flew over Syrian airspace on 20 July 2014 at 1 20pm local time.

The Guardian

Once a negative event occurs, relevant organizations should take effective measures to clarify the misunderstanding via media and manage to regain the public's trust timely.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr. Tenet tried to clarify the misunderstandings between the two sides, finally managing to eliminate them.

The New York Times

Still, the renewed interest "gives me an opportunity to put things in perspective, to clarify the misunderstandings" — about the sources and the nature of his art — that have dogged his career, Mr. Ferrer said.

The New York Times

It is our obligation to clarify the misunderstandings and point out the mistakes.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

One source even corrected its article and clarified the misunderstanding.

Wikipedia

Finally, a review of the literature is included, aiming to clarify the possible misunderstandings arising from the application of these five formulations.

Electrochimica Acta

They were asked to clarify the points of misunderstanding in the task procedure.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

In these cases, the workshop facilitators were familiar with the information presented and it was very important that they took the time to clarify the situation when misunderstandings arose.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clarify the misunderstanding", ensure you have a clear understanding of the misunderstanding yourself before attempting to explain it to others. This will help you provide accurate and helpful clarification.

Common error

Avoid assuming you know the entire scope of the misunderstanding. Ask clarifying questions to ensure you address all aspects of the confusion and provide a comprehensive explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clarify the misunderstanding" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express the action of making a specific misunderstanding clearer or easier to understand. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "clarify the misunderstanding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote the act of making a specific misunderstanding clearer. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides examples across diverse contexts, predominantly in news, science, and formal communication. While other alternatives such as "clear up the misunderstanding" or "resolve the misunderstanding" exist, the core purpose is to ensure accurate understanding. When writing, aim to address the entire scope of the confusion for a comprehensive explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clear up the misunderstanding

This alternative uses a phrasal verb, implying a more active and direct resolution of the misunderstanding.

resolve the misunderstanding

This suggests a complete solution to the misunderstanding, indicating a more formal approach.

rectify the misunderstanding

This alternative implies correcting a wrong perception, suggesting a need to set things right.

address the misunderstanding

This suggests dealing with or focusing on the misunderstanding to better understand it.

explain the misunderstanding

This focuses on providing an explanation to make the misunderstanding clear.

correct the misinterpretation

This alternative emphasizes fixing an incorrect understanding of something.

disambiguate the situation

This suggests removing ambiguity to clarify the situation.

illuminate the confusion

This alternative uses a metaphorical approach, suggesting shedding light on the confusion.

elucidate the confusion

This alternative means to make the confusion clear and easy to understand.

spell out the details

This is more informal and suggests explaining something very explicitly.

FAQs

How can I use "clarify the misunderstanding" in a sentence?

You can use "clarify the misunderstanding" to explain the act of making something clearer. For example, "The company issued a statement to clarify the misunderstanding surrounding the new policy".

What can I say instead of "clarify the misunderstanding"?

You can use alternatives like "clear up the misunderstanding", "resolve the misunderstanding", or "rectify the misunderstanding" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "clarify the misunderstanding" or "clarify the misunderstandings"?

"Clarify the misunderstanding" is used when referring to a single, specific misunderstanding. "Clarify the misunderstandings" is used when addressing multiple misunderstandings.

What is the difference between "clarify the misunderstanding" and "address the misunderstanding"?

"Clarify the misunderstanding" means to make something easier to understand, while "address the misunderstanding" means to acknowledge and deal with the issue.