explain us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explain us" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when someone intends to ask for an explanation directed towards them, but the correct form would be "explain to us." Example: "Can you explain to us how this process works?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

US President Barack Obama has held a televised address to the nation to explain US policy on Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons.

BBC

"And it will help explain us to them.

The New York Times

I don't expect you to explain us your view on this passage in a web chat but, do you maybe have any suggestion for a reading?

The New Yorker

At its best, this impulse lent Wallace's writing an otherworldly quality, as if he had been sent here to explain us to ourselves.

The Guardian - Books

Attempting to explain us better to ourselves, they remind us that without other minds, there wouldn't be what only seem to be our own in the first place.

The Guardian - Books

Like Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow," her books and podcast try to explain us to ourselves so that we're working with, not against, the occasionally maddening ways in which we operate.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

We were too busy being proudly Hungarian; it explained us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Before anything can be shipped it has to be stripped, which is a challenge in itself," explains US spokesman Mark Wright.

BBC

I've explained British TV and real football to him, he's explained US politics and fake football to me.

Vice

When she was here she explained us, [there is] no need to worry.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

"Explain to us what you want from us," the letter said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "clarify for us" or "elucidate for us".

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the preposition "to" when indicating the recipient of an explanation. Remember that "explain" typically requires "to" when followed by the recipient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain us" functions as an imperative request. However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct usage requires the preposition "to", such as in "explain to us".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "explain us" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct form is "explain to us". Ludwig AI confirms this, noting that the absence of the preposition "to" is a common error. While there are some examples of "explain us" in various sources, they are likely due to errors or non-standard usage. For clear and effective communication, it is best to use "explain to us" or alternative phrases such as "clarify for us" or "elucidate for us", especially in formal or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explain to us

Adds the preposition "to", correcting the grammatical structure to indicate the direction of the explanation.

clarify for us

Replaces "explain" with "clarify", focusing on making something easier to understand, and includes "for us" to specify the audience.

elucidate for us

Uses a more formal synonym, "elucidate", which means to make clear or explain, directed at the intended audience.

walk us through

Offers a step-by-step explanation or demonstration, indicating a guided process.

enlighten us

Suggests providing insight or knowledge, implying a deeper level of understanding.

give us an explanation

Phrases the request as providing an explanation, specifying the type of information desired.

shed light on for us

Emphasizes revealing or clarifying something previously unclear, directing the clarification.

break it down for us

Indicates simplifying a complex topic into more manageable parts for better understanding.

decipher for us

Implies interpreting something obscure or difficult to understand, directing that understanding.

spell it out for us

Suggests providing a very clear and detailed explanation, leaving no room for ambiguity.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "explain" with a pronoun?

The correct structure is "explain to + pronoun". For example, instead of saying "explain us", you should say "explain to us", "explain to me", or "explain to them".

What's the difference between "explain us" and "explain to us"?

"Explain us" is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to phrase it is "explain to us", where "to" is a preposition that indicates the recipient of the explanation.

What can I say instead of "explain us"?

Instead of "explain us", you can use alternatives like "explain to us", "clarify for us", or "elucidate for us" depending on the context.

Is "explain us" ever correct?

In standard English, "explain us" is generally considered incorrect. The correct phrasing is typically "explain to us".