describes to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "describes to" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "describes" without the preposition "to." Example: "The report describes the process in detail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One time Jacqueline describes to Janet how she had observed two flies mating under the microscope.

The New Yorker

He describes to Gary the journey from polyp to colon cancer.

The New York Times - Magazine

That describes to me pretty accurately what this version of Windows is.

The Guardian - Tech

This describes to John why he was in a position to be hurt.

The New York Times

Later, Father Sobrino describes to Galán the creep of the Cold War in the nineteen-sixties.

The New Yorker

He had prepared a wall-sized illustrated plan of the ideal twenty-five-acre farm, which he describes to writer.

The New Yorker

I prefer my own old, surreal imagining of that space, which Ellison hardly describes, to the picture's nitpicky realism.

The New Yorker

Gulliver describes to his incredulous hosts the situation in his native land, where the Yahoos rule over the Houyhnhnms.

The New Yorker

They interpreted the "beast" it describes to be some arch-heretic or Satan as the inventor of heresies.

The New York Times - Books

She then describes to Maury, who looks on with an expression of beatific sympathy, her daughter's pattern of delinquency.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet later in the book he describes, to a soul-baring extent, how much he loves his fiancée.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "describes" without the preposition "to". For example, say: "The author describes the landscape vividly."

Common error

Don't add "to" after "describes". Using "describes to" is grammatically incorrect. A correct usage: the author describes the process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "describes to" is typically intended to function as a verb followed by a preposition, aiming to indicate the act of providing a description to someone or something. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "describes to" appears in some contexts, Ludwig identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is simply "describes". Though the intent is to convey information or provide details, this phrase should be avoided. Instead, consider using alternatives such as "explains", "details", or "portrays" depending on the intended meaning and context. Given the grammatical issues, it's best to steer clear of "describes to" to maintain clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explains to

Substitutes "describes" with "explains", focusing on clarification rather than a mere depiction.

describes for

Replaces 'to' with 'for', which might be used in specific, less common contexts but is generally not standard English.

narrates to

Replaces "describes" with "narrates", emphasizing the act of storytelling.

illustrates to

Shifting to "illustrates" means providing examples or visual aids to clarify the description.

details for

Changes to "details for", which suggests providing specific information for a particular purpose or audience.

recounts to

Changes to "recounts", highlighting a detailed telling of events.

depicts to

Using "depicts" suggests creating a visual or vivid image through words.

outlines for

Changes to "outlines for", it provides a structured overview.

characterizes to

The verb characterizes is used to capture the main qualities of something, rather than a full description.

portrays to

Using "portrays" instead of "describes" implies a more artistic or interpretive representation.

FAQs

How do I properly use the word "describes" in a sentence?

The word "describes" should be followed directly by the object being described, without the addition of the preposition "to". For instance, "The author describes the scene vividly" is correct, whereas "The author describes to the scene vividly" is not.

Is it grammatically correct to say "describes to"?

No, the phrase "describes to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is simply "describes". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct and usable in written English.

What are some alternatives to using "describes" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "explains", "details", "outlines", or "portrays" instead of "describes".

What's the difference between "describes" and "explains"?

"Describes" generally refers to providing a representation or account of something, while "explains" implies clarifying or providing reasons for something. The choice depends on whether you're simply depicting something or also elucidating it.