explanatory mark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explanatory mark" is not a standard term in written English, but it can be understood in context.
It could be used when referring to a punctuation mark that serves to clarify or explain something, though it may not be widely recognized. Example: "In this sentence, the explanatory mark helps to clarify the author's intent."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These are not entirely wrong, but they miss the explanatory mark.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He described a five-stage process, with self-explanatory headings to mark each one: hubris born of success, undisciplined pursuit of more, denial of risk and peril, grasping for salvation, capitulation to irrelevance or death.

The Guardian - Opinion

Initial exercise planning involved the use of tables to organize the questions, the answer choices, the answer-specific explanatory feedback, and the marking scheme.

CBE Life Sciences Education

A detailed ethnography of the encompassing inaccessibility of Buli witchcraft leads him to the conclusion that much of the anthropological literature, which views witchcraft as a system of beliefs with genuine explanatory power, is off the mark.

Cornell University

But if the "because" in question is causal-explanatory, this seems insufficient to mark the relevant distinction.

SEP

A central rationale for positing supervenience is to mark a kind of explanatory primacy to the subvenient properties (see the supplement on Supervenience and the Explanatory Primacy of the Physical).

SEP

The narratives gained in Study 2 offered complementary insights into care and outcomes, and revealed marked differences between the explanatory frameworks of service users and providers.

Global Health Action

Thus, since non-evaluative type-facts are the primary explanatory facts, and since explanatory power is the mark of objective facts, it appears that there cannot be any value facts.

SEP

Fig.  4 shows the explanatory structure that evolved, with key pathways of threat and disruption (marked in black) and of response and adaptation (marked in grey) indicated.

Conflict and Health

Different metres also mark narrative or lyrical passages, as well as the explanatory remarks that conclude a performance.

Britannica

These meticulously edited texts are also reprinted, with explanatory notes but without the full scholarly apparatus of the critical editions, in The Mark Twain Library, a popular trade edition that is available in both cloth and paper covers.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "explanatory mark", ensure the context clearly indicates you are referring to a punctuation mark or symbol used for clarification. If the audience is unfamiliar with the phrase, consider using alternatives like "clarifying punctuation".

Common error

Avoid using "explanatory mark" without providing sufficient context or when writing for a general audience. Many readers may not recognize this phrase. Provide a brief definition or use a more common term for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explanatory mark" functions as a noun phrase, typically referring to a punctuation mark or symbol that provides clarification or explanation. Though Ludwig AI suggests it's not a standard term, its function is to denote clarifying punctuation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explanatory mark" is a phrase used to describe a punctuation mark or symbol that clarifies meaning. Though Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a standard term, its usage appears across diverse sources, including news, science, and academia. When using "explanatory mark", ensure clarity by providing context or opting for alternatives like "clarifying punctuation". This approach avoids potential confusion and enhances effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarifying punctuation

Focuses specifically on punctuation whose primary role is to make something clearer.

defining symbol

Emphasizes the role of the symbol in setting boundaries or characteristics.

elucidating character

Highlights the character's role in shedding light on or clarifying a point.

annotative sign

Stresses the function of providing annotations or notes for explanation.

interpretive notation

Suggests the notation helps in interpreting meaning.

specifying indicator

Highlights its use in precisely defining or pointing something out.

descriptive marker

Focuses on the function of marking something with descriptive details.

illustrative symbol

Emphasizes the role of illustrating or providing examples.

expository punctuation

Highlights that punctuation is used for exposition.

signifying glyph

Highlights the glyph's role in signifying meaning.

FAQs

What does "explanatory mark" mean?

"Explanatory mark" refers to a punctuation mark or symbol used to clarify or explain a part of a sentence or text. While not a standard term, it describes punctuation that provides additional information or context.

What are some alternatives to "explanatory mark"?

Alternatives include "clarifying punctuation", "defining symbol", or "interpretive notation", depending on the specific function you want to emphasize.

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

You can use it as in, "In technical writing, the correct use of an explanatory mark can significantly improve readability." Ensure the context makes it clear you're discussing punctuation's clarifying role.

Is "explanatory mark" a widely recognized term?

No, "explanatory mark" is not a widely recognized term. Using more common alternatives like "clarifying punctuation" or providing a brief explanation of what you mean can improve clarity.