explanatory hint

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explanatory hint" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing additional information or clarification to help someone understand a concept or instruction better. Example: "The teacher provided an explanatory hint to help the students grasp the complex topic more easily."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, for the speed of information processing our models found no possible explanatory hint for the observed differences when compared to the controls.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In this sense, the reports [ 35, 36] provide additional explanatory hints underscoring the importance of the maturational age trajectory.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

There are helpful tools like 50/50 (which eliminates two of the four possible answers), hint (self-explanatory), and pass-back (which shoots that question back to your opponent).

TechCrunch

When supplemented by Relativity (which is what Russell seems to be hinting at) Explanatory Impotence provides a powerful argument against non-natural properties.

SEP

However, the Argument From Relativity looks a little better if we follow Russell's hints and combine it with the Argument from Explanatory Impotence.

SEP

Twitter quietly announced its take on native long-form content last October and CEO Jack Dorsey hinted the intention to go beyond 140 characters by posting a screenshot of explanatory text (a hack that already allows for longer tweets).

The Guardian

(Hint, hint).

The New York Times

"Hint, hint, Bill Rapp".

The New York Times

No explanatory graphics.

The Guardian

Explanatory labels are plentiful.

The New York Times - Arts

(Hint: cutspendingshrinkgovernmentrepealObamacare).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "explanatory hint" when you want to provide a subtle but informative clue that aids understanding, rather than directly revealing an answer.

Common error

Avoid using "explanatory hint" as a substitute for clear, direct explanations. If the context demands clarity, provide a full explanation instead of a mere hint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explanatory hint" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe something that offers a subtle explanation or clue. Ludwig's examples show it being used to denote information that aids in understanding a concept or solving a problem.

Expression frequency: Rare

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 "explanatory hint" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to describe a subtle clue that offers explanation. While not very common, as shown by Ludwig, its usage spans across both scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "clarifying clue" or "illuminating suggestion" depending on the level of formality and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explanatory note

Focuses on the written aspect of explanation using "note".

clarifying clue

Replaces "explanatory" with "clarifying", emphasizing the act of making something clearer.

descriptive clue

Replaces explanatory with descriptive emphasizing the information given

illuminating suggestion

Substitutes "hint" with "suggestion" and "explanatory" with "illuminating", offering a more insightful connotation.

instructive prompt

Replaces "hint" with "prompt" and "explanatory" with "instructive", suggesting a guiding action.

helpful pointer

Uses more informal terms like "helpful" and "pointer" instead of "explanatory hint".

informative lead

Highlights the guiding nature of the hint, positioning it as a "lead".

revealing indication

Emphasizes the unveiling aspect using "revealing" and "indication".

insightful tip

Uses "tip" as a more concise alternative to "hint", while "insightful" replaces "explanatory".

elucidating remark

Offers a more formal substitute, using "elucidating" for "explanatory" and "remark" for "hint".

FAQs

How can I use "explanatory hint" in a sentence?

You can use "explanatory hint" to describe a subtle clue that helps someone understand something. For example: "The teacher gave an explanatory hint to help the students solve the problem".

What's a good alternative to "explanatory hint"?

Alternatives include "clarifying clue", "illuminating suggestion", or "helpful pointer", depending on the level of formality and the nature of the clue.

Is "explanatory hint" formal or informal?

"Explanatory hint" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "elucidating remark" may be preferred in academic or professional settings.

What is the difference between a "hint" and an "explanatory hint"?

A "hint" is a general suggestion or clue, while an "explanatory hint" specifically aims to provide understanding or clarification along with the clue. The former might be vague, while the latter carries an element of explanation.