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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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explained that up

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explained that up" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear and lacks context, making it difficult to determine when it could be used effectively. Example: "She explained that up was the direction we needed to go."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The man sitting at the next table, an elbow away — the patio was barely large enough for the six tables it held, three of them unoccupied — must have been observing the exchange; he leaned over after the waitress had left and explained that up north the wildfire was just a few miles from the state highway.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The man sitting at the next table, an elbow away the patio was barely large enough for the six tables it held, three of them unoccupied must have been observing the exchange; he leaned over after the waitress had left and explained that up north the wildfire was just a few miles from the state highway.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Turning to us with a smile, she explained that up the road was one of the villages they have worked with for years.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Aslam explained that up until recently, the European Union funded the tickets of people who were willing to return home voluntarily.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Petrella explains that, "up until the mid-1960s or so, two-thirds of the U.S. prison population was what the Census Bureau would consider non-Hispanic white".

News & Media

Huffington Post

Rashi explains that up until the sixth day of creation, the grasses and plants had not yet fully sprouted because they were waiting for the rain, and the rain was waiting for Adam, who was created and prayed for it.

News & Media

Huffington Post

In the above video for Oprah.com, Elrod explains that ups and downs are just part of the journey.

News & Media

Huffington Post

He then goes on to explain that Goldner set up meetings between him and some gaming psychiatrists who explained the game's "hook".

An alert message should come up, explaining that songs with missing album artwork will be sent to iTunes.

Megan Crum explained that, growing up in Greensboro, she always wanted to be a vet.

News & Media

The Economist

Mr. Orban explained that opening up treaty talks inevitably meant a range of other ideas "would come to the surface".

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace the phrase "explained that up" with a more direct and grammatically sound alternative such as "clarified that" or "elaborated on".

Common error

Avoid combining "explained that" with "up" when a simpler verb like "clarified" or "detailed" would be more appropriate and grammatically correct.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explained that up" functions as a verb phrase where 'explained' is the main verb, 'that' introduces a subordinate clause, and 'up' acts as an adverbial particle. However, Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not always grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "explained that up" is identified by Ludwig AI as not always grammatically correct. While some examples exist across diverse sources such as The New Yorker, Huffington Post, and Wikipedia, it is generally recommended to opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "clarified that" or "elaborated on". This ensures clarity and precision in your writing. Understanding the nuanced contexts in which this phrase appears can help writers make more informed decisions about their word choice.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "explained that up"?

You can use alternatives like "clarified that", "elaborated on", or "detailed that" depending on the context.

Is "explained that up" grammatically correct?

The phrase "explained that up" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use clearer alternatives like "clarified that" or "elaborated on".

How to use "explained that up" in a sentence?

While not recommended, if you need to use the phrase, ensure it's in a context where "up" adds directional or intensifying meaning, although clearer alternatives are usually preferable. For example: "She explained that up was the direction we needed to go."

What's the difference between "explained that" and "explained that up"?

"Explained that" is a standard phrase for providing information. Adding "up" is usually unnecessary and grammatically awkward. Use "explained that" for general explanations and consider alternatives like "clarified that" for better clarity.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: