elaborate on your answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "Elaborate on your answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone to provide more information or detail about their response. For example: "Can you please elaborate on your answer? I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

○ Can you elaborate on your answer?

Family Practice

If she asks you a question, elaborate on your answer - tell an anecdote from your day, give her a link to a funny picture or website, etc. Use appropriate language - minimise swearing and don't use derogatory terms.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It can bore the audience when you attempt to elaborate on your answers.

Forbes

So take the poll, elaborate on your answers in the comments, and Team HuffPost Comedy -- Carol, Katla, Ross, Christine & Seena -- will do the same.

Huffington Post

So take the poll, elaborate on your answers in the comments, and Team HuffPost Comedy -- Carol, Katla, Ross, Christine & Seena -- will weigh in as well.

Huffington Post

It is important that you choose realistically, as you want to be able to elaborate on your answers during job interviews.

WikiHow

This is where you elaborate on your unique solution.

WikiHow

Please elaborate on your findings.

The New York Times

Could you elaborate on your role in EAPS and your evolving research interests?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Also can you elaborate on your student growth as well?

TechCrunch

Write all these things down and elaborate on your ideas.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase in scenarios where a more detailed or nuanced explanation is necessary, such as in interviews, academic discussions, or complex problem-solving situations.

Common error

Don't simply ask someone to "elaborate on your answer" without giving them any direction. Instead, provide context or specific points you'd like them to address to ensure a more productive and informative response.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elaborate on your answer" functions as an imperative request, prompting the listener or reader to provide additional details or explanations to clarify their initial response. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is a correct and usable request for further information.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elaborate on your answer" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for requesting more detail and clarification, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's commonly found in scientific, news, and wiki contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various settings. When using this phrase, be specific about what aspects you want clarified to get a focused response. Related phrases include "expand on your response" and "explain your answer further". The phrase's function is to uncover more reasoning, context, or evidence, enhancing overall comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Expand on your response

Replaces "elaborate" with "expand", offering a slightly less formal tone.

Explain your answer further

Substitutes "elaborate" with "explain further", focusing on providing additional clarification.

Provide more detail about your answer

Rephrases the request to focus on adding details to the response.

Can you give a more detailed explanation?

Poses a question seeking a more comprehensive explanation.

Clarify your response

Asks for clarification, useful when the initial answer is ambiguous.

Tell me more about your answer

Offers a more conversational way to request additional information.

Go into more depth regarding your answer

Emphasizes the need for a deeper, more thorough explanation.

Shed more light on your answer

Suggests providing more insight and clarity.

Explain the reasoning behind your answer

Focuses on the rationale and thought process behind the answer.

Can you provide additional context?

Requests background information to better understand the answer.

FAQs

How can I use "elaborate on your answer" in a sentence?

You can use "elaborate on your answer" to ask someone to provide more details or explanations. For example, "Can you elaborate on your answer regarding the budget allocation?"

What's a more formal way to ask someone to elaborate?

Instead of "elaborate on your answer", you might ask, "Could you "expand on your response", please?" This phrasing is suitable for professional or academic settings.

Is it better to say "elaborate on your answer" or "explain your answer further"?

Both phrases are correct, but "explain your answer further" might be preferred when you specifically need more clarification, while "elaborate on your answer" is a more general request for detail.

What does it mean when someone asks me to elaborate?

When someone asks you to elaborate, they want you to provide more details, examples, or explanations to make your answer clearer and more comprehensive. Think of it as an invitation to "provide more detail about your answer".