explain clearly

USAGE SUMMARY

"explain clearly" is a correct and common expression in written English.
You can use it to ask or instruct someone to provide an explanation for something in an understandable and concise way. For example: "Please explain clearly how to perform this task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Can anyone explain, clearly, why the Federal Aviation Administration is in a state of partial shutdown?

The New Yorker

In previous hearings, Judge Kaplan had chastised prosecutors for failing to explain clearly how Blips worked.

The New York Times

But it is a real challenge to explain clearly and without technicalities even a concept that one understands well.

The Guardian - Books

Speak to his captain and explain clearly that if the player refuses to participate, you will abandon the game.

The Guardian - Sport

It must admit how little it previously deserved trust and explain clearly how it will do better in future.

The Economist

You suggest that financial institutions be required to explain clearly and completely their overdraft programs and pricing.

The New York Times

But part of it stems from the government's clumsy failure to explain clearly what it is doing.

The Economist

Second, we should explain clearly the basis for the speculation and should not confuse conjecture with fact.

Independent

For the voters to be able to make an informed choice in this election, the parties need to explain clearly how they would go about achieving it.

The Guardian

"For the voters to make an informed choice in this election, the parties need to explain clearly how they would go about achieving it.

The Guardian

I wish that "reformers" trying to eliminate soft money would explain clearly just what that phrase means ("Donors Wary of Gore's Plan on Financing," front page, March 28).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "explain clearly", ensure your explanation is tailored to your audience's level of understanding. Avoid jargon or overly technical terms unless your audience is familiar with them.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary details that may confuse the reader. Focus on providing a concise and direct explanation to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain clearly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, typically used to emphasize the manner in which an explanation should be delivered. Ludwig's AI confirms its common usage and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "explain clearly" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to emphasize the importance of providing a lucid and easily understandable explanation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. To ensure effective communication, avoid jargon and tailor your explanation to your audience's level of understanding. Alternatives such as ""elucidate clearly"" or ""articulate clearly"" can be used to add nuance to your writing. By following best practices and avoiding common pitfalls, you can leverage "explain clearly" to enhance clarity in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elucidate clearly

Emphasizes making something easier to understand through detailed explanation.

articulate clearly

Highlights the skill of expressing oneself in a coherent and understandable manner.

state explicitly

Focuses on expressing something directly and without any ambiguity.

present lucidly

Stresses the clarity and organization of the information being presented.

convey unambiguously

Highlights the absence of any possible misinterpretation in the message.

spell out plainly

Suggests providing a very simple and straightforward explanation, leaving no room for doubt.

lay out distinctly

Focuses on the structured and organized presentation of information.

detail comprehensibly

Emphasizes providing a complete and easily understandable account.

interpret precisely

Highlights accuracy and lack of ambiguity in the explanation.

define unambiguously

Stresses a clear and precise definition, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

FAQs

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

You can use "explain clearly" to request or instruct someone to provide a lucid explanation, as in "Can you "explain clearly" how this process works?"

What is a good alternative to "explain clearly"?

Alternatives include "elucidate clearly", "articulate clearly", or "state explicitly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to "explain clearly" something?

To "explain clearly" means to provide an explanation that is easily understood, leaving no room for confusion or ambiguity.

How does "explain clearly" differ from simply "explain"?

"Explain" means to make something understandable, while ""explain clearly"" emphasizes the importance of the explanation being lucid, straightforward, and free from ambiguity.