explain it

USAGE SUMMARY

"explain it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone to explain something to you. For example, "Could you explain it to me?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You can't explain it".

The New York Times - Sports

How to explain it?

The New Yorker

Let them explain it.

The New Yorker

Explain it to me".

The New Yorker

Please explain it.

The New York Times

Can anyone explain it?

Independent

I cannot explain it.

Independent

"Can't explain it.

The New York Times - Sports

Words couldn't explain it.

The New York Times

No one can explain it.

The New York Times

They still can't explain it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone to explain something, be specific about what you don't understand to get a more focused and helpful explanation.

Common error

While "explain it" is perfectly acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "elucidate it" or "clarify it" in academic or professional contexts for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain it" functions primarily as an imperative, used to request clarification or a detailed account of something. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is standard and grammatically correct, showing up in many real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "explain it" is a common and grammatically correct way to request clarification or a detailed account, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is particularly frequent in News & Media sources, suitable for neutral and informal contexts, but less so for formal or academic writing. While "explain it" serves the fundamental purpose of seeking understanding, alternative phrases like "elucidate it" or "clarify it" may be more appropriate for formal contexts, and "break it down" is suitable to simplify something complex. Remember to be specific when asking for an explanation to receive the most helpful response.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elucidate it

This alternative provides a more formal and detailed explanation.

clarify it

This suggests making something easier to understand, focusing on removing confusion.

break it down

This implies simplifying a complex topic into smaller, more manageable parts.

walk me through it

This requests a step-by-step explanation or demonstration.

give me the explanation

This directly asks for an explanation, often implying a specific reason or cause.

shed light on it

This suggests providing clarity or understanding to something previously obscure.

put it in simpler terms

This asks for a less technical or complex explanation.

interpret it for me

This requests an explanation of the meaning or significance of something.

decipher it

This implies unraveling something that is difficult to understand or decode.

spell it out

This asks for a very clear and direct explanation, leaving no room for ambiguity.

FAQs

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

You can use "explain it" in a sentence when you need clarification about something. For example, you could say "Can you "explain it" to me?" or "I don't understand; please "explain it" further".

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

In more formal settings, you can use phrases like "elucidate it" or "clarify it" instead of "explain it".

Is it ever incorrect to use "explain it"?

No, it's generally not incorrect, but the formality might be inappropriate for certain contexts. Consider your audience and purpose when choosing whether to use ""explain it"" or a more elevated term.

What's the difference between "explain it" and "break it down"?

"Explain it" is a general request for clarification. "Break it down" specifically implies simplifying something complex into more manageable parts.