explanations were requested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explanations were requested" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone has asked for clarifications or details about a particular topic or situation. Example: "During the meeting, explanations were requested regarding the recent changes in the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chase said it would not comment as a matter of policy on the unusual trading in its stock after an explanation was requested by the New York Stock Exchange.

The New York Times

13 Free text explanation was requested for future plans in relation to the teaching of PA and allowing further comment.

British Journal of Sports Medicine

This definition was consistently used when verbal explanation of CAM was requested by patients.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

A short explanation about the exemption being requested and why.

Harvard University

Thus, explanations were commonly requested for each term in the verbal label format.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

More explanation in the main text is requested.

eLife

On 19 November 1998, Iraq was requested to provide explanations and clarifications on outstanding disarmament issues in the chemical weapons and missile areas.

The New York Times

It contained a full explanation of the study objectives and explicit information about why their participation was being requested.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

(c) To seek a waiver from any of the limitations in paragraph (b) of this section, a federally insured credit union must submit a written request to its regional director with a full and detailed explanation of why it is requesting the waiver.

Cornell University

As perinatal women were not the focus of observation consent was not requested; however, verbal explanations were given to women who enquired.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The datasets supporting the conclusions of this article are included within the article and any explanations are available upon request from the corresponding author.

The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "explanations were requested" in formal writing when indicating a need for clarification or further details. Ensure that the context clearly identifies who requested the explanations and why.

Common error

Avoid using "explanations were requested by themselves" without indicating who made the request or the context. Always provide enough information for the sentence to be meaningful and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explanations were requested" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone asked for clarifications or further details. This emphasizes the action of requesting rather than who performed the action, typical for situations where the requester is less important than the request itself, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "explanations were requested" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that clarifications or further details were asked for. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English, fitting formal, neutral, and professional contexts. Although Ludwig's examples provide a range of usage scenarios across different domains, the phrase appears infrequently, showing opportunities for precision in formal communications. Related phrases include "clarifications were sought" and "details were asked for", each bringing slight variations in emphasis. Effective use involves clearly indicating who requested the explanations and the specific context of the request.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarifications were sought

Replaces "explanations" with "clarifications" and restructures the sentence slightly.

clarification was requested

Changes to singular form, emphasizing a single instance of needing clarification.

elaboration was sought

Indicates a need for a more detailed or comprehensive account.

details were asked for

Uses a more informal and direct way of saying that more information was needed.

further information was requested

Specifies that the information sought is in addition to what was already provided.

more details were requested

Highlights that additional details, beyond the initial information, are required.

an explanation was asked for

Changes from passive to active voice, altering the sentence structure.

reasons were requested

Focuses on the need for understanding the underlying causes or justifications.

justification was requested

Emphasizes the need for a valid reason or evidence to support a claim or action.

accounts were requested

Indicates a formal need for a report or description of events.

FAQs

How can I use "explanations were requested" in a sentence?

You can use "explanations were requested" to indicate that someone asked for clarifications or details about something. For example, "During the meeting, "explanations were requested" regarding the new policy changes".

What's a more formal way to say "explanations were requested"?

A more formal alternative is "clarification was sought". This phrase maintains a professional tone and is suitable for formal reports and academic papers.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "explanations"?

Both active and passive voice are acceptable depending on the context. "The committee requested explanations" (active) places emphasis on the requester, while ""explanations were requested" by the committee" (passive) emphasizes the explanations themselves.

What can I say instead of "explanations were requested" in informal contexts?

In informal contexts, you could say "people asked for more details" or "they wanted more info". These phrases are more conversational and less formal than ""explanations were requested"".