elaborating on something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elaborating on something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to provide more details or explanations about a specific topic or idea. Example: "In her presentation, she spent a significant amount of time elaborating on the benefits of renewable energy sources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Elaborating on something he said when he endorsed her last month, he said, "There has never been a man or a woman — not me, not Bill, nobody — more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Do people begin to phase out, looking glazed or distracted when you begin to elaborate on something?

WikiHow

Elaborating on this theme, Bo pointed out something that now seems so obvious I can't imagine why I hadn't heard it before: "The difference being that California has always got plump, ripe grapes.

Forbes

Elaborating on the state's position, Micah Rasmussen, a spokesman for Governor McGreevey, said: "It's not something we decide one way or the other, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission does.

The New York Times

Get the problem creator or producer to elaborate on why they see something as a problem.

WikiHow

Although she didn't elaborate on what had gone wrong, something obviously had.

The New York Times

The more I listened to it--I don't want to say that I knew it had potential because the demo was great, but I just felt like this was something we could elaborate on and really make cool even more so than it already was.

Huffington Post

He will answer one or two questions about his health, but it is not something he wants to elaborate on so she does not pry.

The New York Times - Sports

The "new evidence" isn't something Kittrell had to elaborate on.

Huffington Post

We are also going to introduce tighter registration requirements DR: Are you able to elaborate on the registration requirements: credit card, drivers license, something like that?

TechCrunch

Damn, now that was something I forgot to ask him to elaborate on.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elaborating on something" when you want to provide further details or explanations to make a concept clearer or more understandable to your audience. For example, "The speaker spent considerable time elaborating on something she mentioned earlier in her presentation."

Common error

Ensure that when using "elaborating on something", the 'something' is clearly defined or understood within the context. Vague references can confuse the audience and diminish the impact of your elaboration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elaborating on something" functions as a verb phrase that indicates the act of providing more details or explanations about a previously mentioned topic or idea. This action aims to clarify or provide further insight, as supported by examples found using Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elaborating on something" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the action of providing more detailed information or explanations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as wiki articles. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to clearly define the 'something' you are elaborating on. Consider alternatives like "expanding on something" or "providing more details on something" to add variety to your writing. Understanding its function and purpose will allow you to use it effectively in both formal and informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding on something

Focuses on the act of making something larger or more comprehensive in scope.

expounding on something

Implies a more detailed and often scholarly explanation.

detailing something further

Emphasizes the addition of specific details.

providing more details on something

Directly states the action of giving additional information.

developing something further

Suggests a process of growth or evolution in the explanation.

building upon something

Indicates adding to an existing foundation or idea.

going into more depth on something

Highlights the act of exploring something at a deeper level.

offering a fuller explanation of something

Focuses on giving a complete and thorough explanation.

giving a more comprehensive account of something

Implies providing a broad and inclusive narrative or description.

adding more information about something

Simply means to give additional details and facts.

FAQs

How can I use "elaborating on something" in a sentence?

You can use "elaborating on something" to introduce additional details or explanations about a topic. For example, "After briefly mentioning the new policy, the manager spent the next hour "elaborating on something" he felt was particularly important."

What are some alternatives to "elaborating on something"?

Alternatives include "expanding on something", "expounding on something", or "providing more details on something", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "elaborating on something" formal or informal?

"Elaborating on something" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone and style of your writing or speech. It's generally considered neutral in register.

What's the difference between "elaborating on something" and "expanding on something"?

While both phrases imply providing more detail, ""elaborating on something"" suggests a detailed explanation, whereas ""expanding on something"" suggests broadening the scope or coverage of a topic.