expand on that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expand on that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to provide more details or elaboration on a specific point or idea. Example: "Could you please expand on that point you made about the economic impact of the policy?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It would be good to expand on that.

Harvard University

And I guess maybe I should expand on that.

Cornell University

Gradually, you'll find what gives you pleasure or feels interesting and you can expand on that.

Independent

We hope to expand on that success along the Seventh Avenue line this week".

The New York Times

Ishmael- Feel free to expand on that.

BBC

Perhaps we can expand on that because the amount of public money that's spent in Shropshire... is into the billions.

BBC

In this article, we'll expand on that and discuss how you can seize your opportunities.

TechCrunch

It was just easier to expand on that.

Huffington Post

"Let's expand on that".

The New York Times

Could you expand on that?

The New Yorker

Spring 2014 will expand on that motif.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expand on that" in written communication, ensure your request is clear and specific to avoid vague or irrelevant responses.

Common error

Avoid simply saying "expand on that" without indicating which aspect of the previous statement needs clarification. Be specific to get the most relevant and helpful response.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand on that" functions as an imperative request for further elaboration or detail on a previously mentioned topic. As shown by Ludwig, it prompts the speaker to provide more information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expand on that" is a common and grammatically correct way to ask someone for more details or clarification. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. It serves to elicit further explanation or elaboration, making it an essential tool for effective communication. While perfectly acceptable in most settings, more formal alternatives like "elaborate on that" may be preferred in academic writing. To maximize clarity, it's best to specify which aspect of the initial statement requires further detail.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborate on that

Replaces "expand" with "elaborate", offering a more formal synonym while retaining the core meaning.

explain that further

A simple request for additional explanation.

could you elaborate further

Adds a polite request for more detail using "elaborate" and "further".

go into more detail about that

Asks for a deeper examination of a particular aspect.

can you give me more details

Uses a direct approach to ask for more specific information.

can you explain that in more detail

Specifically asks for a more detailed explanation of a previous statement.

tell me more about that

A less formal way to request additional information.

walk me through that

Implies a step-by-step explanation or demonstration is desired.

can you clarify that

Focuses on making something clearer, implying a lack of initial understanding.

provide additional context

Requests more background or surrounding information related to the topic.

FAQs

How can I use "expand on that" in a sentence?

You can use "expand on that" when asking someone to provide more details or clarification on a point they have made. For example, "You mentioned the budget cuts will affect the department; can you "expand on that"?"

What is a more formal alternative to "expand on that"?

A more formal alternative to "expand on that" is "elaborate on that". This substitution maintains the request for more detail but sounds more professional.

Is it appropriate to use "expand on that" in academic writing?

While "expand on that" is generally acceptable, in formal academic writing, it's often better to rephrase the request for clarification more precisely. You might ask, "Could you provide further details regarding..." or "Can you elaborate on..."?

What's the difference between "expand on that" and "explain that"?

"Expand on that" asks for more detail or elaboration on something already mentioned, whereas "explain that" asks for a clearer, more comprehensive account of something. If you didn't understand the initial statement, ask to "explain that"; if you understood but want more information, ask to "expand on that".