explain better

USAGE SUMMARY

"explain better" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when one needs another individual to clarify something that was not fully understood. For example, "Can you explain better what you mean by that?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After he drew criticism for light questioning, Jim Lehrer wanted to explain better his approach.

The Guardian - Opinion

The government needs to explain better what it's doing and where it's going.

The New Yorker

We have to meditate how to explain better what we are doing".

The New York Times

But we need to explain better where our stories come from and why.

The Washington Post

"We really have to explain better what it is we do".

The New York Times - Arts

Our citizens are tired, but we must explain better that we are working hard in their interests.

The Guardian - Business

And the president simply feels that... he has to at least explain better what is going on on the ground.

The Washington Post

@HP Sorry I did not explain better and I do not want to go off topic too much, but cats have fewer genes than dogs.

University of California, Berkeley

'My Child Is an Intel Finalist at ' Here are Long Island's eight Intel finalists, their schools and projects (which they could explain better than we could).

The New York Times

"Maybe there's a way to explain better, to have more ambition, to put into perspective the content of the accord, and the backstop", he said.

The Guardian

To explain better the outcome in patients with advanced disease we developed a set of prognostic groups within a large-scale clinical trial.

The Journal of Urology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone to "explain better", be specific about what part of their explanation was unclear. This helps them focus their clarification.

Common error

While "explain better" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound less sophisticated. In formal contexts, opt for alternatives like "elaborate" or "provide further clarification" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain better" functions as a request or suggestion for improved clarity in communication. It is typically used when an initial explanation is deemed insufficient or difficult to understand. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explain better" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for requesting greater clarity or detail in an explanation. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's appropriate in many contexts, but formal settings may benefit from alternatives like "elaborate" or "provide further clarification". The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using "explain better", be specific about what needs clarification to guide the explanation effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer a clearer explanation

Highlights the improved clarity of the explanation.

clarify

Focuses on making something easier to understand by removing ambiguity.

go into more detail

Highlights the act of providing additional information.

restate more clearly

Implies rephrasing something for better understanding.

elaborate

Suggests expanding on existing information with more detail.

provide further explanation

Emphasizes the act of giving more clarity.

expound

Implies a more formal and detailed explanation.

give a fuller account

Suggests providing a more complete and comprehensive explanation.

spell out

Indicates explaining something very simply and directly.

shed more light on

Uses a metaphor to describe making something clearer.

FAQs

How can I use "explain better" in a sentence?

You can use "explain better" when you need someone to provide a clearer or more detailed explanation. For example, "Could you "explain better" what you mean by 'quantum entanglement'?"

What's a more formal way to say "explain better"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "elaborate", "provide further details", or "offer a clearer explanation" instead of "explain better".

Is it grammatically correct to say "explain better"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "explain better". It's a common and acceptable way to ask for clarification or a more detailed explanation.

What's the difference between "explain better" and "explain in more detail"?

While both phrases ask for more information, "explain better" focuses on improving clarity, while "explain in more detail" simply asks for more information, regardless of whether the initial explanation was unclear.