explain that

USAGE SUMMARY

"explain that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask for an explanation of something, or to offer an explanation. For example, "Can you explain that more clearly?" or "I'd like to explain that a little further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Can I explain that?

The New York Times

Sometimes you cannot explain that".

The New York Times

How do you explain that?

Independent

(I'll explain that benefit shortly).

The New York Times

Can he explain that?

The Guardian

Go explain that.

The New Yorker

But I couldn't explain that feeling.

The New York Times - Books

"How do you explain that?" he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Now how do you explain that?

The New York Times - Sports

So why not explain that vote?

The New York Times

Can you explain that?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "explain that", ensure your request is specific. Instead of saying "Explain that", specify what you want to be explained: "Explain that concept", "Explain that decision", etc.

Common error

Avoid using "explain that" as a standalone sentence without indicating what "that" refers to. Always provide context or specify the subject needing explanation to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain that" functions primarily as an imperative, used to request clarification or further details about a previously mentioned topic or situation. It prompts someone to provide an explanation, as seen in Ludwig's examples, such as "How do you explain that?"

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

22%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "explain that" is a common and grammatically sound way to request clarification or further details about something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves as an imperative prompting an explanation. While broadly applicable, context is key. Specificity improves clarity, and register awareness ensures appropriateness (e.g., "Could you elaborate on that?" may suit formal settings better). Analysis of its use in various source types indicates that it appears with high frequency in news and media, wikis, and scientific publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarify that

Focuses on making something clearer or easier to understand.

elaborate on that

Suggests providing more details or expanding on a topic.

expound upon that

Implies a more formal and detailed explanation.

justify that

Focuses on providing reasons or evidence to support a claim.

account for that

Implies providing a reason or explanation for something that has happened.

give reasons for that

Directly requests the reasons behind something.

shed light on that

Suggests clarifying or revealing information about something.

break that down

Asks for a simplification or more accessible explanation.

walk me through that

Requests a step-by-step explanation.

what's the reasoning behind that

Inquires about the logical basis or rationale for something.

FAQs

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

You can use "explain that" to ask someone to provide more details or clarify something. For example, "The data shows a significant increase; can you "explain that"?"

What is a more formal way to say "explain that"?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "Could you elaborate on that?", "Could you provide further clarification on that?", or "Could you expound upon that?"

What can I say instead of "explain that" in casual conversation?

In casual conversations, you can use phrases like "What's that about?", "What's the deal with that?", or "Can you "break that down" for me?"

Is it correct to say "explain me that" instead of "explain that"?

No, "explain me that" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is ""explain that"" or "explain it to me".