explain that further

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explain that further" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to provide more details or clarification on a topic that has already been mentioned. Example: "I understand the basics of the project, but could you explain that further so I can grasp the finer points?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Open-ended questions were employed to stimulate conversation and probing questions were used to further explore the comments made by participants, for example, "In what way do you mean?" or "Could you explain that further?"> All focus groups were conducted in the school setting as it was an environment in which participants were comfortable with.

BMC Public Health

Rajoy is likely to explain that further cutbacks and tax rises are needed, in return for the country's banking bailout.

The Guardian - Business

But the reverse situation also applies: Doctors may explain that further interventions are futile, that patients won't recover, while families push for every possible treatment.

The New York Times

I'll update the post if he decides to explain that further.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But they explained that further investigation of what causes the "geographic variability" needs to be explored.

The Guardian

This letter explained that further south there were various deserted Maya towns with only rotten maize abandoned by their occupiers.

Wikipedia

But when physicians were asked in the interview why they had touched on the subject the way they did, perhaps only superficially or not at all, they often explained that further explorations were unnecessary and also would have been too awkward: "Some patients can get a bit offended if you ask [about adherence].

BMC Health Services Research

Shaker might go further and explain that, notwithstanding President Obama's protestations, the torture yet continues.

The Guardian - Opinion

In case "100 petabytes" didn't blow you over, the filing further explains that's equal to "100 quadrillion bytes".

TechCrunch

And I'm happy to explain that to you further in writing if you like," he told Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla).. "You can explain whatever you'd like, you are counting revenue twice," Wasserman Schultz shot back.

Huffington Post

Ashe explains that the further investment in Yihaodian also shows Walmart's belief in retail in China as a growth industry.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "explain that further" when you need someone to provide additional details on a point they've already introduced. It's useful for clarifying complex or ambiguous statements.

Common error

Avoid using "explain that further" when the speaker hasn't provided any initial information or context. It's best used as a follow-up question, not as a starting point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain that further" functions as an imperative request. It is used to solicit additional information or a more detailed account of something that has already been mentioned. As Ludwig AI confirms, this request is common and acceptable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explain that further" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for requesting more detailed information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not extremely common, it finds use across various contexts, including news, scientific discussions, and general explanations. It serves as a neutral way to prompt speakers for greater clarity, ensuring a deeper understanding of the topic at hand. Consider alternatives like ""elaborate on that"" for similar requests.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Could you elaborate on that?

Focuses on expanding the existing information with more details.

Can you provide more details?

Asks for additional specific information.

Could you clarify that?

Requests a clearer and more understandable explanation.

What do you mean by that?

Seeks understanding of the speaker's intended meaning.

Can you give a more detailed explanation?

Requests a comprehensive explanation with more specifics.

Tell me more about that.

Invites the speaker to expand on the topic.

Can you expand on that point?

Requests further development of a specific idea.

What are the nuances of that?

Seeks a deeper understanding of the subtle aspects.

In what way?

Directly asks for the specific aspect needing more explanation.

How so?

A concise way to ask for the reasoning or mechanism behind a statement.

FAQs

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

You can use "explain that further" when you want someone to elaborate on something they've already said. For example, "I understand the basic concept, but could you "explain that further"?"

What's a more formal way to ask someone to "explain that further"?

In a more formal setting, you could ask, "Could you "elaborate on that"?" or "Could you "provide more details"?"

Is it always necessary to use "explain that further"?

No, you can often rephrase your request depending on the context. Simpler alternatives include "what do you mean?" or "how so?" for less formal situations.

What's the difference between "explain that further" and "could you clarify"?

"Explain that further" asks for more detail, while "could you clarify?" asks for a clearer understanding. The former seeks expansion, the latter seeks simplification.