elucidation

USAGE SUMMARY

"elucidation" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun that means to make something clear or easier to understand. For example, "The teacher provided elucidation to help the class understand the complex math equation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rather more ambiguous was his elucidation of his "small government, big people" credo.

The Economist

It would be much better to spend aid money on drugs for developing countries than it is to waste it in the usual ways.Far from compromising science, profit in both these cases the development of new medicines and the elucidation of the genome has animated it, and directed it towards meeting pressing human needs.

The Economist

They could go to the prosecutor of the ICC saying we are victims of Mr Ahmadinejad's crime and we are citizens of a state party to the ICC, and therefore you have the power to investigate since the crime in question has no particular geographical location a little statutory annoyance.[Ed. note: This part requires a bit of elucidation.

The Economist

This week, researchers led by Gane Ka-Shu Wong, of the Beijing Institute of Genomics, have done just that, revealing the genetic blueprint of Bombyx mori, the domesticated silkworm, in a paper published in Science.Dr Wong's team also made a significant contribution to the elucidation of the genome of another Asian species, the chicken.

The Economist

What is more, Taiwan's elucidation of its claim is a setback for China.The Taipei exhibition for the first time put on display a small portion of the archives that accompanied Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang (KMT), or Nationalist party, when they fled Mao Zedong's victorious Communists to the island in 1949.

The Economist

The result was the most important finding in the history of biology apart from the discovery of evolution by natural selection: the elucidation of the structure of DNA.They were an odd couple.

The Economist

That is as likely to result in as much obfuscation as elucidation: whoever is guilty, the Russian reflex as, for example, the Kursk submarine disaster in 2000 and the Beslan school massacre of 2004 prove is to cover up and prevent any blame sticking anywhere important.

The Economist

"Everything revolves around the moral issues arising from the appointment of the Delyan Peevski and the elucidation of the close ties between government and corporate groups," Mr Smilov said.

The Economist

Why are you opposed to the foremost whistleblower on capitalism?Manfred SohnEdemissen, GermanyBarbie loses her chainsSIR – Cryptography having failed him, Carl Adler (Letters January 11th) calls for an elucidation of the subliminal message behind your pairing of articles on Marx and Barbie.

The Economist

The text invites further elucidation.

SEP

Another critical point of Bolzano's theory requires elucidation: the notion of "appropriate" substitution (substitution of appropriate ideas).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elucidation" when you want to emphasize the act of making something clear through detailed explanation or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "elucidation" in contexts where a simpler word like "explanation" or "clarification" would suffice. Using "elucidation" in simple contexts can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "elucidation" is that of a noun. It refers to the act of making something clear or providing an explanation. As shown in Ludwig, it often appears as the object of a verb, such as "provide", or as a subject requiring further action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elucidation" functions as a noun signifying the act of clarifying something through detailed explanation. Ludwig examples show frequent usage across scientific and news contexts, emphasizing its formal register. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. When writing, reserve "elucidation" for contexts requiring precision, and consider simpler alternatives like "explanation" or "clarification" for broader applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarification

Focuses on removing ambiguity or confusion.

explanation

Provides reasons or causes to make something understandable.

illumination

Suggests bringing light or understanding to a subject.

explication

Implies a detailed and thorough explanation.

interpretation

Focuses on understanding the meaning of something.

exposition

Suggests a comprehensive presentation of information.

decipherment

Implies discovering the meaning of something obscure or coded.

breakdown

Suggests separating something into smaller parts to be easily explained.

simplification

Reducing complexity to make it easier to understand.

unraveling

Discovering or explaining something complex.

FAQs

How to use "elucidation" in a sentence?

"Elucidation" is used to refer to the act of making something clear. For example, "The professor provided a detailed elucidation of the theory." or "Further elucidation of the subject is needed."

What can I say instead of "elucidation"?

You can use alternatives like "clarification", "explanation", or "illumination" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "elucidation" or "elaboration"?

"Elucidation" refers to making something clear, while "elaboration" refers to adding more detail. Use "elucidation" when you want to clarify and "elaboration" when you want to expand.

What's the difference between "elucidation" and "explanation"?

While both involve making something understandable, "elucidation" implies a more thorough and detailed process of clarification than a simple "explanation".