explain with reference to

USAGE SUMMARY

"explain with reference to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used in academic or technical writing to ask someone to provide an explanation while using specific examples or sources as support. Example: "Please explain with reference to the data provided why there was a decrease in sales during the third quarter." In this sentence, the speaker is asking the person to explain the decrease in sales, using specific data or sources to support their explanation.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He went onto explain with reference to a description printed off from KnowYourMeme.com ("and there is such a thing as a website called that").

The Guardian

Can you explain, with reference to the specific issues and broad direction of the court's critical role in interpreting the Constitution, and the makeup of the court today, why it is important that voters choose you to appoint the next Supreme Court justice?

The New Yorker

Interdisciplinary Connections: Economics- Using a variety of arguments and graphs, explain, with reference to costs and rates, a persuasive answer to the question,"How valuable is your time?" Geography- On a world map, locate and label the different international time zones.

The New York Times

— Atul Gawande * Can you explain, with reference to the specific issues and broad direction of the court's critical role in interpreting the Constitution, and the makeup of the court today, why it is important that voters choose you to appoint the next Supreme Court justice?

The New Yorker

— Ken Auletta — Atul Gawande * Can you explain, with reference to the specific issues and broad direction of the court's critical role in interpreting the Constitution, and the makeup of the court today, why it is important that voters choose you to appoint the next Supreme Court justice?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This was explained with reference to a previous study that related anthropometrics to differences in joint angles.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

The degradation of contacts is explained with reference to current to melt metal and breakdown oxide films.

Tribology International

The variation of species mixing rates are explained with reference to the structure of one-dimensional premixed laminar flames.

Combustion and Flame

The origin of this potentially useful property of the algorithm is explained with reference to one- and two-dimensional applications.

Journal of Computational Physics

Like many aspects of Japanese society, rental relatives are often explained with reference to the binary of honne and tatemae, or genuine individual feelings and societal expectations.

The New Yorker

The book draws on a range of theoretical issues from politics, sociology, economics and technology that are clearly explained with reference to the historical changes at Raleigh.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "explain with reference to", always ensure that the references are clearly cited and directly relevant to the explanation. This strengthens the credibility and clarity of your argument.

Common error

Avoid simply stringing together quotes without providing your own analysis. The goal is to "explain with reference to", not replace your explanation with references.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explain with reference to" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the method or basis upon which an explanation should be constructed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it requests an explanation supported by specific examples or sources. It is used to provide a clearer and credible answer.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explain with reference to" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon prepositional phrase used to request or provide explanations supported by specific sources or examples. It finds frequent use in academic, scientific, and news contexts. The phrase is considered appropriate for formal writing. When using this phrase, focus on clear citations and avoid replacing personal analysis with references. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. Remember alternatives such as "explain by citing" or "elucidate with examples from" to adjust the tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explain by citing

Replaces "with reference to" with a more direct verb indicating citation of sources.

explain using evidence from

Specifies that the explanation should be based on tangible evidence extracted from a source.

elucidate with examples from

Uses a more formal verb, "elucidate", and specifies that examples will be used for clarification.

detail with support from

Shifts the focus to providing a detailed explanation supported by external sources.

interpret in light of

Suggests an interpretation based on the context or information provided by a reference.

clarify by alluding to

Implies a less direct reference, where understanding is enhanced through subtle connections.

expound based on

Conveys a thorough explanation built upon a particular foundation or source.

justify with data from

Focuses on providing a justification supported by quantitative or qualitative data.

demonstrate using insights from

Highlights the use of specific insights gained from a particular reference to prove a point.

analyze in relation to

Emphasizes a comparative analysis where the explanation is deeply connected to the reference.

FAQs

How can I use "explain with reference to" in a sentence?

Use "explain with reference to" when you want someone to provide an explanation that is supported by specific examples or sources. For instance, "Explain the economic impact of the policy, with reference to the data provided".

What is a more concise way to say "explain with reference to"?

Alternatives include "explain by citing", "explain using evidence from", or "elucidate with examples from", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "explain with reference to" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "explain with reference to" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in academic or technical contexts where it's important to show the basis for your explanations.

What's the difference between "explain with reference to" and "explain with regard to"?

"Explain with reference to" emphasizes using specific sources or examples to support an explanation. "Explain with regard to" ("explain with regard to") is more general and means to explain considering or in relation to something.