describe and explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "describe and explain" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used when giving instructions or providing information about something. Example: "In your essay, please describe and explain the process of photosynthesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its central goal is to describe and explain the complex motions of the ocean.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The objective here is to describe and explain both sets of factors and their interaction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His analyses of the concepts that used to describe and explain human behaviour are too simple.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In "Trial: The Inside Story," Susan Kuklin sets out to describe and explain the reality for young adolescents.

The New York Times - Books

He also failed to adequately describe and explain his report's finding of "three litres of intra-abdominal fluid blood".

The Guardian

Objective: To describe and explain regional variations in trends in infant mortality due to perinatal conditions.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Finally, we describe and explain an early prototype of a DFRMS.

Computers & Security

Previous conceptual models describe and explain changes in depositional stacking patterns along a fault segment.

Marine and Petroleum Geology

The study also shows that the model can adequately describe and explain the experimentally observed behavior.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The authors describe and explain this exercise, and provide guidelines for conducting the exercise in class.

Journal of Accounting Education

This hypothesis can be used to describe and explain the experiment results successfully.

International Journal of Fatigue

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "describe and explain", ensure that the description provides enough context for the explanation to be meaningful. A detailed description sets the stage for a clear explanation.

Common error

Avoid simply restating the description as the explanation. The explanation should delve into the 'why' or 'how', not just the 'what' already covered in the description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "describe and explain" functions as a directive, often used in academic or professional contexts to instruct someone to provide both a detailed account and a clarification of a topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a common and correct construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

Academia

21%

News & Media

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "describe and explain" is a highly common and grammatically correct phrase used to request a detailed account followed by a clarification. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for academic, scientific, and professional contexts. Its purpose is to ensure a comprehensive understanding of a subject, demanding both factual presentation and insightful analysis. Related phrases include "elucidate and describe" and "explain and detail". Remember to provide enough context in your description to make your explanation meaningful, and avoid simply restating the description as the explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elucidate and describe

Reverses the order of actions; "elucidate" implies making something clear, which may precede describing it.

explain and detail

"Detail" suggests providing more specific information than "describe".

define and interpret

"Define" implies setting boundaries or limits, while "interpret" suggests understanding meaning.

portray and clarify

"Portray" focuses on representation, while "clarify" aims to remove confusion.

illustrate and elaborate

"Illustrate" means to give examples, and "elaborate" means to provide more detail.

outline and justify

"Outline" suggests giving a general overview, and "justify" means to provide reasons for something.

present and interpret

"Present" focuses on offering information, whereas "interpret" is about providing understanding.

report and analyze

"Report" indicates conveying information, and "analyze" focuses on examining methodically.

summarize and critique

"Summarize" means to give a brief account, while "critique" suggests evaluating something.

detail and contextualize

"Contextualize" is to place in context, focusing on background and relevant conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "describe and explain" in a sentence?

Use "describe and explain" when you need to provide a detailed account of something and then clarify its meaning or function. For example, "The essay should "describe and explain" the causes of the French Revolution".

What phrases are similar to "describe and explain"?

Similar phrases include "elucidate and describe", "explain and detail", or "define and interpret", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to "describe and explain" or "explain and describe"?

The choice depends on emphasis. "Describe and explain" suggests providing the description first, followed by an explanation. "Explain and describe" reverses this order, emphasizing the explanation as primary.

How does "describe and explain" differ from simply "explain"?

"Explain" focuses solely on clarifying meaning or function. "Describe and explain" includes a detailed account or depiction before providing the explanation, offering a more comprehensive understanding.