clarifying the situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'clarifying the situation' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to explain a situation so that everyone understands what is going on. For example, "The manager held an emergency meeting to clarify the situation and make sure everyone was on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The Secretary himself is not exactly clarifying the situation.

The New York Times

"It will have the benefit of clarifying the situation for the first time," said Bouvet.

The Guardian

He hopes to make an announcement clarifying the situation by the end of the week.

The Guardian - Sport

Rather than clarifying the situation with other states, the Texas ruling adds to the legal uncertainty.

The Washington Post

"After this explanation, that one imagines was delicate, the couple gave themselves a few days to reflect before clarifying the situation in the eyes of [public] opinion.

The Guardian

"Though I'm extremely grateful and delighted, all that happened was a panel of people thought that [it was the best]," she explains, clarifying the situation, perhaps to herself.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

That does clarify the situation slightly.

The Guardian

Congress has failed to clarify the situation.

The Washington Post

The latest statistics do not clarify the situation.

The New York Times

It took a perplexed fan to clarify the situation.

The Guardian - Books

I think it is better to clarify the situation now.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about complex events or decisions, use "clarifying the situation" to signal that you are about to provide an explanation that simplifies understanding for your audience.

Common error

While "clarifying the situation" is useful, avoid using it repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "explaining the details" or "making the context clearer" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clarifying the situation" functions as a gerundial phrase or a participial phrase, often serving as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's commonly used to describe the action of making a situation more understandable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Sport

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clarifying the situation" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing the act of making something more understandable. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly found in news, science, and sports contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While effective, it's best used in moderation, with alternatives employed to maintain writing variety. The phrase helps to provide explanations and reduce confusion, making complex events easier for an audience to grasp.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearing up the confusion

This directly targets the removal of misunderstanding.

making the context clearer

This focuses on improving understanding of the surrounding circumstances.

resolving the ambiguity

This focuses on removing any uncertainty or vagueness.

explaining the details

This highlights the act of providing a thorough explanation.

elucidating the circumstances

This alternative uses more formal vocabulary to convey a similar meaning.

providing a clearer picture

This uses a visual metaphor to express making something more understandable.

illuminating the issue

Similar to 'shedding light', this suggests bringing clarity to a specific problem.

shedding light on the matter

This uses a metaphorical expression to suggest revealing information.

untangling the problem

This suggests simplifying a complex or confusing issue.

defining the scenario

This emphasizes setting clear boundaries and parameters for the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "clarifying the situation" in a sentence?

You can use "clarifying the situation" when you are explaining or providing details to make something easier to understand. For example, "The manager called a meeting for the purpose of clarifying the situation".

What are some alternatives to "clarifying the situation"?

Alternatives include "elucidating the circumstances", "shedding light on the matter", or "making the context clearer".

Is it better to say "clarify the situation" or "clarifying the situation"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Clarify the situation" is an imperative or infinitive form, while "clarifying the situation" is a gerund or participle. For example, "We need to clarify the situation" versus "Clarifying the situation is our top priority".

What's the difference between "clarifying the situation" and "explaining the situation"?

While similar, "clarifying the situation" implies removing confusion or ambiguity, while "explaining the situation" simply means providing details or reasons. Clarifying suggests a prior state of confusion.