clear this question

USAGE SUMMARY

"clear this question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone asks a question that you don't understand and needs clarification. For example, "Can you please clear this question so I can answer it correctly?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As our presenters made clear, this question is a difficult one without a specific answer.

University of California, Berkeley

To clear this question, two hypotheses were suggested.

Cell Death and Disease

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The polling data is clear on this question.

The Guardian - Opinion

The tax code is simple and clear on this question.

The Washington Post

That's a tall order, since the scientific literature is crystal clear on this question.

The Guardian

Jeremy Paxman: We will look at some of the other areas shortly, but to clear up this question of Railtrack, clearly the railways in this country are in a terrible state, you would obviously accept that.

The Guardian

(I would have, just to be clear, put this question to the local Republicans, but they weren't at the Farmers' Market – Illinois' electoral college votes are about as safe as they can be in Senator Obama's bag).

The Guardian - Opinion

It is not clear how this question is answered by functionalist accounts.

SEP

Viewed in retrospect, Book 2 makes clear that this question has no simple answer.

SEP

At a micro level, it's not clear that this question leads to some kind of value.

Forbes

In the later passage, D&G make more clear how this question of immanence and transcendence relates to the other distinctions I've been pointing to: production and expression, usage and meaning.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clear this question" when you need someone to rephrase or explain a question that is not easily understood. Ensure context is appropriate, like in academic or technical discussions.

Common error

While acceptable, "clear this question" might sound less formal than alternatives like "clarify this question" or "rephrase this question" in academic or professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear this question" functions as an imperative request, seeking clarification or rephrasing of a question for better comprehension. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this usage is valid in written English. The phrase is used to ensure understanding before providing an answer.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clear this question" is used to request clarification of a question, making it easier to understand. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is relatively rare and may be perceived as less formal than alternatives like "clarify this question". Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific sources, it serves the purpose of ensuring comprehension before attempting to answer. When writing, consider your audience and the level of formality required; in more formal settings, a phrase like "clarify this question" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarify this question

Replaces "clear" with the more formal "clarify", emphasizing the need for a clearer understanding.

make this question clearer

Directly asks for the question to be made more understandable.

explain this question

Focuses on providing an explanation for the question, making it more understandable.

help me understand this question

Shifts the focus to the speaker's need for understanding.

rephrase this question

Suggests rewording the question for better understanding.

can you elaborate on this question

Asks for more details or explanation about the question.

shed light on this question

Figuratively requests clarification or insight into the question.

resolve this question

Implies finding a solution or answer that eliminates confusion.

address this question

Indicates a need to tackle or deal with the question directly.

unpack this question

Suggests breaking down the question into smaller, more manageable parts.

FAQs

What does "clear this question" mean?

The phrase "clear this question" means to ask for clarification or a better understanding of a question that is confusing or ambiguous.

How can I use "clear this question" in a sentence?

You might say, "Before I can answer, could you please "clarify this question" a bit?" or "To ensure I understand, can you "rephrase this question"?".

What's a more formal alternative to "clear this question"?

A more formal alternative would be ""clarify this question"" or "could you provide further clarification on this question?".

Is "clear this question" grammatically correct?

Yes, "clear this question" is grammatically correct, although it is less common than other similar phrases like "clarify this question".