explained what happened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explained what happened" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone clarifies or provides details about an event or occurrence. Example: "During the meeting, she explained what happened during the incident last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He explained what happened.

The New York Times

He explained, "What happened is we got circumvented".

The New Yorker

Then when I explained what happened, he started to cry".

The New York Times

Laumann explained what happened when the storm arrived last week.

The Guardian

She explained what happened to Raed, her oldest son.

The New York Times - Magazine

He has explained what happened and apologised, and that is good enough for me.

Independent

Mr. Morsi's office has not explained what happened in any detail.

The New York Times

We explained what happened, and again the response was little more than a shrug.

The New York Times - Travel

(Neither the association nor Mr. Lewis has fully explained what happened).

The New York Times

Mr. Palmer went before the authority's Transit Adjudication Bureau, in Brooklyn, and explained what happened.

The New York Times

Luckily, his mother answered the phone, and I explained what happened.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to convey a sense of completeness in the explanation of an incident or event. It indicates that a full account was provided.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where it's unclear who did the explaining. For instance, instead of saying "It was explained what happened", specify who did the explaining, such as "The manager explained what happened".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explained what happened" functions as a declarative statement, typically used to convey information about a past event or situation. Ludwig AI indicates that is correct to use this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explained what happened" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of providing information or clarification about an event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it is commonly found in news, media, and other forms of communication. Its neutrality makes it appropriate for various contexts, while alternatives like "detailed the events" or "recounted the incident" can offer nuanced expressions. When using the phrase, clarity regarding the explainer and the audience is key, and avoiding passive voice constructions enhances effectiveness. The phrase's frequency is very common due to the many examples available in news and other sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detailed the events

Focuses on providing a comprehensive account of the events.

recounted the incident

Implies a storytelling approach to describing an event.

described the situation

Offers a general overview without necessarily going into specifics.

clarified the matter

Highlights the act of making something clearer or easier to understand.

gave an account of the events

Suggests a formal or official report of what occurred.

walked through the sequence of events

Implies a step-by-step explanation of what unfolded.

shed light on the occurrence

Focuses on revealing previously unknown or unclear aspects of the event.

narrated the episode

Presents the event as a story, often with personal involvement.

elucidated the circumstances

Offers a detailed explanation to make the circumstances more understandable.

presented the facts of the case

Stresses the objective and factual nature of the explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "explained what happened" in a sentence?

You can use "explained what happened" to describe a situation where someone provided details about an event, for example: "The witness "explained what happened" to the police officer".

What are some alternatives to "explained what happened"?

Some alternatives include "detailed the events", "recounted the incident", or "described the situation", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to say "explained what happened" or "explained what had happened"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "explained what happened" is generally used when referring to a more recent event or a sequence of events directly relevant to the present context. "Explained what had happened" is used to refer to an event completed in the past before another past event.

What's the difference between "explained what happened" and "described what happened"?

"Explained what happened" implies a deeper understanding and clarification of the causes or reasons behind the event, while "described what happened" simply recounts the events without necessarily providing insight into the underlying reasons. So, if you are looking to portray understanding of the causes of an event you would use "explained what happened".