elaborating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elaborating" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone is providing more detail or explanation about a topic. Example: "The author is elaborating on the main themes of the novel in the final chapter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Elaborating on this, Kenny added: "The extent of personal credit, personal wealth created on credit, was done between people and banks – a system that spawned greed to a point where this went out of control completely with a spectacular crash".

The Guardian

As well as elaborating on all that, she talks about cycling, climate change, buses, congestion, what a Green-led London would be like and makes a brilliant attempt at answering one of my more unreasonable questions.

The Guardian

LaManno's death doesn't meet the standard for capital murder, prosecutors have said without elaborating on the evidence leading to that conclusion.

The Guardian

"I get the rest in taxes from farmers," he says, without elaborating on his collection methods.The government denies rearming militias, though it admits to "selective voluntary citizens' participation" in the fight against the Taliban.

The Economist

One recommendation expected to be made by the committees which have been elaborating the national agenda is for a new electoral law that would give Palestinians fairer representation in parliament.

The Economist

By elaborating the Net (beefing it up with encryption technology, for example, and using more reliable telephone links), firms have built "extranets" to do many of the things that they used to do through expensive proprietary systems.

The Economist

Elaborating on this idea, he wonders whether the ultras on both sides have not in fact been arguing about different things from the beginning.In search of his own olive branch, Bruno Latour, a French philosopher, takes us to the Amazon rainforest.

The Economist

Turkey's new army chief, General Yasar Buyukanit, said during his inaugural speech that the battle against the rebels would be intensified, without elaborating how.

The Economist

An Anglo-German working group is to formalise this epiphany by jointly elaborating die neue Mitte, Germany's version of Mr Blair's "third way".Mr Schröder's flattery should not give Mr Blair ideas above his station.

The Economist

There followed a long compositional silence, or as Mr Shawn puts it, an internal search, that was finally broken in 1921, when Schoenberg started to compose by elaborating on a given series of all 12 tones.

The Economist

What is known is that by the ninth century Arab authors such as Jaber bin Hayyan, an Iraqi polymath best known for elaborating al-jabr or algebra, were describing "flammable vapours" at the mouths of heated wine vessels.His contemporary, the legendary poet and lush Abu Nawas (who died in 815AD), was less prim.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Contextualize your elaborations by providing relevant background information. This helps readers understand the significance of the details you're adding and how they relate to the overall subject matter.

Common error

Avoid excessive detail that doesn't directly support your main point. Rambling or including irrelevant information can dilute your message and lose the reader's interest. Stay focused and ensure each elaboration contributes meaningfully to the overall understanding.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "elaborating" is that of a present participle or gerund. As a present participle, it often forms part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "He is elaborating"). As a gerund, it functions as a noun (e.g., "Elaborating on the topic requires research"). According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elaborating" functions as a present participle or gerund, serving to provide additional details and context to a topic. As Ludwig confirms, the term is grammatically correct and suitable for use in writing. It appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, suggesting a formal to neutral register. When using "elaborating", it's crucial to maintain focus and avoid irrelevant details to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Consider alternatives like "expanding upon" or "going into detail" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Expanding upon

This alternative emphasizes the act of building upon existing information to provide a fuller explanation.

Going into detail

Focuses on providing specific and minute aspects of the subject matter.

Expounding on

Implies a more formal and thorough explanation, often involving analysis.

Detailing further

Highlights the addition of more specific information.

Providing more context

Emphasizes the act of giving the background or circumstances for better understanding.

Adding specifics

Focuses on including particular and precise information.

Explaining in depth

Stresses a comprehensive and thorough explanation.

Amplifying the point

Suggests increasing the clarity or impact of a specific idea.

Discussing at length

Indicates a prolonged and detailed conversation or analysis.

Illustrating more fully

Highlights using examples to give more clarity to a statement or concept.

FAQs

How can I use "elaborating" in a sentence?

"Elaborating" is typically used to describe the act of providing more details or explanations. For instance, you might say, "The speaker was "elaborating on" the key points of the new policy."

What are some alternatives to "elaborating"?

Alternatives to "elaborating" include "expanding upon", "going into detail", or "expounding on", depending on the context.

When should I use "elaborating" instead of "explaining"?

"Elaborating" suggests adding more detail to something already explained, while "explaining" implies clarifying something not yet understood. Use "elaborating" when you're building upon existing knowledge.

Is it correct to say "elaborating about" something?

It's more common and grammatically sound to say "elaborating on" something rather than "elaborating about". For example, "He was "elaborating on" the details of the project" is preferable.