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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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explains on

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explains on" is not correct and not usable in written English.
The correct usage would typically involve "explains" followed by a direct object or "explains about" in some contexts. Example: "The article explains the concept of climate change in detail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The video concept comes from one of Juliana's dreams, as she explains on their fundraising page.

News & Media

Huffington Post

And Michael Rosenberg explains on SI.com why that won't happen.

"You can't tell a story linearly if you want people to understand," he explains on screen.

News & Media

The Economist

So basically, Tess explains on her group page, she made an honest late-night mistake.

News & Media

The New York Times

As Dr Green explains on his blog, there are some reasons to wonder.

News & Media

The Economist

As the Vatican explains on its Web site, popes are elected by a conclave of cardinals.

News & Media

The New York Times

She is now 16 and loves playing Minecraft," he explains on the site.

But none of that explains, on the surface, why I want to share this book.

The nominal idea, Mr. Chappelle explains on camera, was "the concert I've always wanted to see".

News & Media

The New York Times

As Andrew Prokop explains on Vox, Wolff's writing is a rehashing of gossip.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"It was a sunken kingdom," Barrett explains, on his rounds, charming customers.

News & Media

The New Yorker
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "explains on". Instead, use "explains" followed by a direct object or "explains about" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is to add unnecessary prepositions after the verb "explain". Always check if the preposition is needed or if the sentence flows better without it. For example, it's more accurate to say, "He explains the concept" than "He explains on the concept".

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explains on" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase, aiming to describe the act of providing an explanation. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, a more suitable alternative is to use "explains" followed by a direct object or "explains about."

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "explains on" is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that standard English usage prefers "explains" followed by a direct object or, in some cases, "explains about". Due to its incorrectness, "explains on" is not recommended for formal writing or professional communication. Alternatives such as "clarifies" or "elaborates on" are better suited for conveying explanations clearly and accurately. Therefore, it is best to avoid using "explains on" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity in writing.

FAQs

How should I properly use the word "explain" in a sentence?

Use "explain" followed by the object of the explanation, such as "explain the theory" or "explain the process". You can also use "explain about" to introduce the topic being explained. Avoid using "explains on".

What are some alternatives to "explain" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "clarify", "elaborate on", "describe", or "detail".

Is it grammatically correct to say "explains on"?

No, the phrase "explains on" is not grammatically correct. It is better to say "explains" or "explains about".

What's the difference between "explains" and "explains on"?

"Explains" is grammatically correct and followed by the object being explained. The phrase "explains on" is not standard English and should be avoided. Use alternatives like "explains about" instead, if a preposition is needed.

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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: