explains about

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase "explains about" is not a correct form of English and should not be used in written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "explains" or "explains [something]". For example: "The professor explains the complex material in her lectures."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A univariate regression model indicated that TD explains about 68% of the variance in TDG.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Nash Explains About Necklace.

The New York Times

Mrs. Nash Explains About Necklace.

The New York Times

It's magical," he explains about his opening remarks.

The Guardian

Other studies say it explains about a third.

The Washington Post

We find that meteorology explains about 53% of the O3 variance in Chicago.

Atmospheric Environment

This chapter explains about belt and chain drives that are used to transmit power from one rotational drive to another.

Mechanical Design

However, our multi-method model of mothering still only explains about two percent of the variation in infants' cognitive development.

Social Science Research

Consequently, this review briefly explains about smart biopolymers and their classifications with examples including their biomedical applications.

Procedia Manufacturing

"All we want is someone who has a huge following," Tyson explains about the selection process.

The Guardian

"It's not a big unit," he explains, "about 10 to 18 inches in diameter.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "explains about" in your writing. Instead, use "explains" followed directly by the subject being explained. For example, prefer "The book explains quantum physics" over "The book explains about quantum physics".

Common error

The word "about" is often unnecessarily added after "explains". This creates redundancy because "explains" already implies conveying information about a topic. Remove "about" for clearer, more concise writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explains about" functions as a verb phrase intended to describe the act of providing information. However, it's considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the word "about" is superfluous and should be omitted.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "explains about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of the word "about". It's better to simply use "explains" followed by the subject matter. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is non-standard, and using "explains" alone will enhance clarity and conciseness. While the phrase does appear across various sources, including science and news media, it is advisable to avoid it in formal writing. High-quality writing favors brevity and precision, making "explains" the superior choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explains

Removes the preposition "about", resulting in a grammatically correct and concise statement.

describes

Offers a simpler term for giving details or characteristics.

provides an explanation of

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and detailed expression.

clarifies

Focuses on making something easier to understand.

elucidates

Suggests a more in-depth and clarifying explanation.

outlines

Implies giving a structured and summarized explanation.

details

Highlights the act of providing specific information.

sheds light on

Emphasizes clarifying something previously unclear.

gives an account of

Presents a narrative or detailed report.

interprets

Focuses on explaining the meaning or significance.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "explains"?

The verb "explains" should be followed directly by the topic being explained. For example, "The teacher "explains" the concept clearly" is correct. Avoid adding "about" after "explains".

Is it grammatically correct to say "explains about"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The phrase "explains about" is redundant. The verb "explains" already implies that you are providing information about something. Simply use "explains".

What are some alternatives to "explains about"?

Instead of "explains about", you can use "describes", "elucidates", or "clarifies" depending on the context. The simplest and most common alternative is just "explains".

Why is "explains about" considered redundant?

The verb "explains" inherently includes the meaning to give details about something. Adding "about" after "explains" is therefore unnecessary and makes the sentence less concise. It's similar to saying "ascend up" – the "up" is already implied.