explaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you are describing the act of making something clear or understandable to someone else. Example: "The teacher spent the entire class explaining the complex theory to her students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You have a precious opportunity, and an important responsibility, in explaining and demonstrating how faith in Islam can be part of British identity.

The Guardian

Explaining his decision to seek a fourth term, he said last year: "They criticise me, but I want to keep working.

The Guardian

He used the word "journey" 10 times in 25 minutes, once explaining that "it was a journey we were on.

The Guardian - Sport

In explaining the decisions, the regulatory commission decreed that Brighton had "in the events which have happened, benefited from the non-payment of most of the commission".

The Guardian - Sport

Deo sits in a clearing, explaining his work to a group of cautiously interested elders.

The Guardian

In 20 years' time, dancers may well find themselves explaining that the incredible Pina Bausch London 2012 season was what got them started.

The Guardian

"For us the idea of a Jesuit pope is very strange," he said, explaining that historically the Jesuits had considered themselves "servants, not authorities, in church".

The Guardian

Searches made on Google's services in Europe using peoples' names includes a section at the bottom with the phrase "Some results may have been removed under data protection law in Europe", and a link to a page explaining the ruling by the European court of justice (ECJ) in May 2014.

The Guardian - Tech

Now, only the parliamentary party can stand out against a policy which the prime minister put into its ideological context by explaining, "If we don't do it, the Tories will".

The Guardian

Try giving a kid a biscuit and explaining that, since it's already eaten so many biscuits, it has to give 40% of that biscuit to someone else.

The Guardian

On growth, there was thin gruel indeed – the headline proposals on "credit easing" will require lots more explaining – and by announcing that Britain will cut carbon emissions "no faster" than any other European country, he has shredded the original Cameron slogan of "Vote Blue, Go Green" and surely picked a fight with the Tories' Lib Dem partners.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when "explaining"; adjust the level of detail and complexity to suit their understanding.

Common error

Avoid "explaining" concepts that are already well-understood by your audience. Over-explaining can come across as condescending or unnecessary, potentially alienating your readers or listeners.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "explaining" is as a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses (e.g., "is explaining") or as a gerund (e.g., "Explaining the rules is important"). According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "explaining" functions as a present participle, conveying the action of clarifying or elucidating something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across different contexts. Given the context of articles from The Guardian and other reputable sources, "explaining" is commonly found within news and media. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "clarifying" or "elucidating", the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid over-explaining simple concepts to prevent alienating your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarifying

Focuses on making something easier to understand by removing ambiguity.

elucidating

Implies making something clearer by providing more information or detail.

expounding

Suggests a thorough and detailed explanation.

delineating

Emphasizes outlining or defining something clearly.

interpreting

Focuses on explaining the meaning or significance of something.

justifying

Implies providing reasons or evidence to support something.

rationalizing

Suggests providing a logical explanation, often to excuse or defend something.

accounting for

Focuses on providing a reason or explanation for something that has occurred.

giving reasons for

A straightforward way of expressing the act of providing explanations.

shedding light on

Suggests making something clearer by revealing new information.

FAQs

How can I use "explaining" in a sentence?

You can use "explaining" to describe the act of making something clear or understandable. For example, "The teacher was "explaining" the complex theory to her students."

What are some alternatives to "explaining"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "clarifying", "elucidating", or "interpreting".

When is it appropriate to use "explaining" in formal writing?

"Explaining" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to clarify a concept, provide reasons, or offer a detailed account of something. Ensure your explanation is clear, concise, and well-supported with evidence.

What's the difference between "explaining" and "describing"?

"Explaining" focuses on making something understandable by providing reasons or causes, while "describing" focuses on giving details or characteristics of something. For example, you might "describe" the symptoms of a disease and "explain" its causes.