clearly specify

USAGE SUMMARY

"clearly specify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that you are giving precise and detailed instructions on how something should be done or what the requirements are. Example sentence: Please clearly specify all the materials needed for the project in the instructions.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Does not clearly specify when a caretaker government has come to an end.

The Guardian

The legislation doesn't clearly specify whether affirmative consent means verbal or nonverbal communication.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ruling today did not clearly specify whether the 1973 statute ever applies to such treatment decisions.

The New York Times

"Election laws clearly specify that the ballot must be marked with an ordinary pencil, supplied for the purpose," he told me.

The New Yorker

Instead of the amorphous idea that large size is suspect, our legislation would clearly specify dollar limits defining which mergers would be too large.

Columbia University

Working with experts, this research used ISM to clearly specify an engineering risk factor relationship represented by a cause effect diagram, which forms the structure of the BN.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

There is the ability to clearly specify how critical requirement levels should change over time and any changes to these numeric values are clearly visible to all.

Competitive Engineering A Handbook for Systems Engineering Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage

If the parties involved in the Chrysler negotiation had taken this step, they may have noticed that they had failed to clearly specify how the automaker should be valued in the future.

Harvard University

Although the instability problem of the orthotropic steel deck system due to flexural compressive stress has been recognized for years, current bridge design specifications do not clearly specify the criteria to prevent local buckling of the orthotropic deck system.

Thin-Walled Structures

The regulations under the Amendments to Title VIII clearly specify that "pooling or packaging" loans on the basis of race is a violation of Title VIII (42 C.F.R. § 100.125).

University of California, Berkeley

In any competition where there are only a limited number of prizes, unless it is otherwise provided no purchase of the newspaper or otherwise is necessary for entry, except in competitions of skill or where competition instructions clearly specify otherwise.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clearly specify", ensure that the context provides enough information for the specification to be understood. Ambiguity in surrounding text can undermine the clarity you're aiming for.

Common error

Avoid using "clearly specify" without providing the necessary details. Saying "clearly specify the requirements" is insufficient if the requirements themselves are not then thoroughly detailed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clearly specify" functions as a directive verb phrase. It is used to instruct or emphasize the need for detailed and unambiguous information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable in written English, especially when emphasizing precise instructions. It directly guides the recipient to provide precise details.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Clearly specify is a directive verb phrase used to emphasize the need for detailed and unambiguous information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It's very common in professional contexts like science, news, formal business and academia. To ensure effective communication, it is crucial to provide sufficient context and avoid vagueness when using this phrase. Alternatives include "explicitly state" or "define precisely". Remember to provide the necessary details when you are using "clearly specify" in your writing and double check you are not being redundant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explicitly state

This alternative replaces "clearly specify" with a more direct emphasis on stating something outright.

define precisely

This alternative emphasizes the act of defining something with a high degree of precision.

articulate distinctly

This alternative highlights the clarity and distinctness with which something is expressed.

delineate unambiguously

This alternative focuses on removing any ambiguity in the description or outlining of something.

spell out explicitly

This alternative suggests providing a detailed explanation, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

stipulate unequivocally

This alternative is suitable when setting out conditions or requirements in an unmistakable manner.

detail comprehensively

This alternative suggests a thorough and complete detailing of information.

designate unambiguously

This alternative emphasizes the act of designating something so that no confusion can arise.

set forth lucidly

This alternative focuses on presenting information in a clear and easily understandable way.

express unequivocally

This alternative puts stress on expressing something with no doubt or misunderstanding.

FAQs

How do I use "clearly specify" in a sentence?

You can use "clearly specify" to emphasize the importance of providing detailed and unambiguous instructions or requirements. For example, "The contract should "clearly specify" the payment terms."

What are some alternatives to "clearly specify"?

Alternatives to "clearly specify" include "explicitly state", "define precisely", and "articulate distinctly".

Is it redundant to say "clearly and specifically specify"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "clearly and specifically specify" can be redundant. "Clearly specify" already implies a specific and unambiguous instruction, so adding "specifically" may not add value.

What is the difference between "clearly specify" and "outline"?

"Clearly specify" implies providing precise details, whereas "outline" suggests giving a general overview. You "clearly specify" requirements, but you might "outline" a plan.