describing whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "describing whether" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of explaining or clarifying a condition or situation, often in the context of making a choice or decision. Example: "The report is focused on describing whether the new policy will have a positive impact on employee productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

It means that the people who haven't done the thing they are describing, whether athletics or statecraft, are frequently mistaken in their assumptions.

The New Yorker

Only rare charts had comments describing whether the node was matted or not.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The safety integrity level (SIL) is a criterion describing whether a component meets the safety requirements of a SIS.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

Here I estimate probits describing whether or not a household contributed, then tobits describing that and the amount donated.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

STR (control variable) = a dummy variable describing whether the core company strategy should be described as oriented towards costs (value = 1) or differentiation (value = 0).

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

The generalisability, or external validity, should be evaluated by describing whether and to what extent the study results are transferable to local conditions (e.g. patient population, qualification of physicians) (Section 1.2.6 IQWiG GM 4.0).

Health Economics Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

We've all cringed upon hearing a favored book inaptly described, whether by some blowhard in a book group or by someone we respect.

The New Yorker

It describes whether each region of the world has a food surplus or deficit, and how imports or exports have changed since 1965.Several lessons emerge.

The Economist

A third pair of terms, poikilothermy and homeothermy, describes whether the body temperature tends to vary with that of the immediate environment or remains relatively constant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They asked 17,000 mostly white, mostly upscale patients enrolled in a Kaiser H.M.O. to describe whether they had experienced any of 10 categories of childhood trauma.

The New York Times

Another pair of terms, ectothermy and endothermy, describes whether most of an animal's heat is absorbed from the environment ("ecto-") or generated by internal processes ("endo-").

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "describing whether", ensure the sentence clearly presents a binary or conditional situation that is being explained or examined.

Common error

Avoid using "describing whether" when a simpler affirmation would suffice. For instance, instead of "The study is describing whether exercise helps," consider "The study confirms that exercise helps."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "describing whether" functions as a linking phrase that introduces a subordinate clause expressing a condition or possibility. It sets the stage for an explanation or determination of a binary outcome, like in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

72%

News & Media

16%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "describing whether" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, especially in scientific and news contexts, as Ludwig AI confirms. It serves to introduce clauses that explain conditions or choices. While it's effective for detailed explanations, it should be avoided in favor of simpler affirmations when possible. Alternatives such as "indicating if" or "explaining if" can offer a more precise nuance, depending on the context. Using "describing whether" effectively involves ensuring clarity and directness in presenting conditional information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indicating if

Focuses on pointing out a condition, less on detailed description.

explaining if

Emphasizes clarification rather than just description.

outlining if

Implies a structured overview of conditions.

specifying if

Highlights the act of making something explicit or definite.

detailing if

Implies providing comprehensive information about a condition.

defining if

Centers on giving a precise meaning or scope.

showing whether

Highlights the act of visually or evidently demonstrating a condition.

illustrating if

Suggests using examples to clarify a condition.

determining if

Focuses on the process of finding out definitively about a condition.

assessing whether

Emphasizes evaluating a condition to form a judgment.

FAQs

How can I use "describing whether" in a sentence?

Use "describing whether" to introduce a clause that explains a condition or choice. For example, "The manual is "describing whether" the device is compatible with older systems."

What are some alternatives to "describing whether"?

You can use alternatives like "indicating if", "explaining if", or "specifying if" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "describing whether" or "explaining whether"?

Both "describing whether" and "explaining whether" are correct, but "explaining whether" places more emphasis on clarification rather than just a description.

When is "describing whether" most appropriate to use?

"Describing whether" is most appropriate when you are detailing a condition or circumstance that determines a particular outcome or state. This is often seen in scientific or technical writing.