clarify to

USAGE SUMMARY

"clarify to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to signal that you are about to explain something to someone. For example: "I'd like to clarify to you why I'm late for work this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was ordered to clarify to his students that he had not been referring to Libya.

The Guardian

"We were trying to clarify to them how these solutions should be established," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Example: "At every stage of the conversation, clarify to ensure you got the message right.

The New York Times

So there's a lot of things we need to clarify, to show the kids how deep the culture is".

The New York Times

"I'd much rather clarify to the public that being undocumented is just a circumstance I find myself in.

The New York Times

"The international community has a duty and responsibility to clarify to Iran, through drastic measures, that the repercussions of their continued pursuit of nuclear weapons will be devastating".

The New York Times

Such automatic tagging suggestions "can bear a lot of risks for users" and the European data protection officials will "clarify to Facebook that this can't happen like this".

The New York Times - Tech

In an editorial on Wednesday, the newspaper Thai Rath said that the Election Commission "needs to clarify to the public why it is working so slowly".

The New York Times

Israel wants its US and European allies to define and stick to clear goals; to enforce remaining sanctions; and to clarify to Iran the consequences of non-compliance with the interim deal or averting a reasonable comprehensive deal.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hamza said this week: 'I had been contacted by Hassan to clarify to me, in the aftermath of the kidnapping, that he did not expect the Yemeni government to deal with this matter as it usually does.

The Guardian

In her July 3rd letter to the Clinton Administration and Jane Alexander, the chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts, she wrote, I want to clarify to you what I meant by my refusal.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clarify to" when you want to emphasize that you are making something understandable for a specific person or group. For instance, "I need to clarify to my team the new project goals".

Common error

Avoid overusing "clarify to" when a simpler term like "explain" or "inform" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted. For example, prefer saying "I explained the situation" over "I needed to clarify to them the situation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clarify to" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of making something clear or understandable to a specific recipient. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, from explaining policies to conveying intentions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clarify to" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the act of making something clear to a specific audience. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. It is frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, consider simpler alternatives like "explain" or "inform" for greater conciseness in certain situations. Remember, the goal is clear and effective communication. Use "clarify to" when you need to focus on the recipient's understanding. Ludwig's examples emphasize this direct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make clear to

Emphasizes the act of ensuring understanding, similar but slightly more emphatic than the original.

explain to

Focuses on providing detailed information, differing slightly from simply making something clear.

elucidate to

More formal and implies a deeper level of clarification or explanation.

get across to

Emphasizes the success of communicating an idea, differing in that it focuses on the reception of the information.

point out to

Highlights a specific detail, guiding to a better understanding

spell out for

Suggests providing very explicit details, potentially implying the listener needs more basic explanation.

break down for

Similar to spell out, means to simplify something for easier understanding.

demonstrate to

Focuses on showing or proving something, which implies clarification.

inform

Broader term; simply means to give someone information, not necessarily to clarify something.

advise

Suggests offering guidance or counsel, not just clarification.

FAQs

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

You can use "clarify to" to indicate that you are making something understandable for someone. For example, "I need to clarify to the team what the new deadlines are".

What does "clarify to" mean?

"Clarify to" means to make something clear or easy to understand for a particular person or group. It emphasizes the act of making something understandable to someone.

What are some alternatives to "clarify to"?

Some alternatives to "clarify to" include "explain to", "make clear to", or "inform". The best choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.

Is "clarify to" formal or informal?

"Clarify to" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for professional and academic contexts, but simpler alternatives might be preferred in informal settings.