explain step by step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explain step by step" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to provide a detailed, sequential explanation of a process or concept. Example: "Please explain step by step how to assemble the furniture so that I can understand the process clearly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If a holy man had electrified the public with his miracles, Dr. Dabholkar, a former physician, would duplicate the miracles and explain, step by step, how they were performed.

The New York Times

I speak to my parents often to check in on them, because they're eager to analyze pictures of weird bites, explain step by step how to fill out a change-of-address form, and tell me that feeling infertile doesn't mean you're infertile.

The New Yorker

We'll walk you through the essential questions every parent has about managing their kids' iPhones and explain, step by step, how to do it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In AI's case, as we see from that Wired piece, even experts can't agree on what the technology needs, much less exactly how it works, much less explain step-by-step how it arrives at its (not always be reproducible) results.

TechCrunch

Nor does she explain, step-by-step, the logistics of switching a student to a public school outside of the home district.

Huffington Post

UNICEF takes action In response to that danger, UNICEF has partnered with the government in launching mine-risk education efforts across the country to explain – step-by-step – to children, parents and local stakeholders what has to be done when one finds an unexploded mine.

Unicef

The entire process from RNA isolation to biological interpretation is explained step-by-step.

Biomaterials

The paper explains step-by-step a process to take advantage of a parallel manipulator that owns the cuspidality property, and thus, it can perform non-singular transitions.

Mechanism and Machine Theory

Data acquisition and processing are explained step-by-step with a detailed example of graph obtained and how, from these experimental data, energy balance is calculated on the heat exchanger.

Ultrasonics Sonochemistry

27 In these studies the development of the image analysis procedures will be explained step-by-step.

BMJ Open

In addition, since most women had not had an US scan before, the ultrasonographers explained step-by-step to the women during the scan what they were doing and why.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "explain step by step", ensure your explanation is indeed sequential and detailed. Avoid skipping crucial steps or making assumptions about the audience's prior knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex sentence structures when trying to "explain step by step". The goal is clarity and simplicity, not to showcase your vocabulary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain step by step" functions as an instructional directive, commonly used to request a detailed, sequential explanation of a process, procedure, or concept. This phrase is very well usable in written English, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "explain step by step" is a common and grammatically sound way to request a detailed, sequential explanation. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is indeed correct and suitable for various contexts. Its frequency is classified as common, and it appears across diverse fields such as science, news media, and formal business settings. When using "explain step by step", ensure that your explanation is thorough, sequential, and avoids jargon to promote clarity. While alternatives like "provide a detailed explanation" or "walk through the process" exist, "explain step by step" is a clear and direct way to ask for a structured explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

walk through the process

Suggests guiding someone through a series of actions or procedures.

break down the procedure

Highlights simplifying a complex process into manageable parts.

lay out the steps

Suggests a clear and organized presentation of the necessary actions.

provide a detailed explanation

Focuses on the level of detail in the explanation.

detail each phase

Emphasizes the individual stages of a process with considerable attention.

give a sequential account

Stresses the chronological order of the explanation.

offer a methodical breakdown

Emphasizes the structured and organized approach of the explanation.

present a clear exposition

Highlights the clarity and comprehensiveness of the explanation.

illustrate the stages

Focuses on visually representing the different phases or steps involved.

demystify the process

Implies making a complex process easier to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "explain step by step" in a sentence?

You can use "explain step by step" when you want someone to provide a detailed and sequential explanation of a process or concept. For example, "Can you "explain step by step" how to install this software?"

What are some alternatives to "explain step by step"?

Alternatives include "provide a detailed explanation", "walk through the process", or "break down the procedure". The best choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.

Is it redundant to say "explain step by step"?

While "explain" often implies a degree of detail, adding "step by step" emphasizes the sequential and methodical nature of the explanation, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness. It's useful when precision is important.

What's the difference between "explain step by step" and "summarize"?

"Explain step by step" means to provide a detailed, sequential account of something. "Summarize", on the other hand, means to give a brief overview of the main points, omitting details. They serve different purposes.