giving explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "giving explanation" is not entirely correct in standard written English; it should be "giving an explanation" or "providing an explanation." You can use it when discussing the act of clarifying or elaborating on a topic or concept.
Example: "The teacher is giving an explanation of the complex theory to help the students understand better."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"There is no indication of anything abnormal in the transcript," Malaysian Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in the statement, without giving explanation for the changes in the reported last communication.

Independent

These days persons like myself (that is, black and involved in fighting social injustice) are almost constantly giving explanation for the continued contested existence of black life in America and quite frankly, this can be extremely exhausting.

HuffPost

(Parent of severe case, male) The best moment to give the explanation to people is when the patient is recovered… It seems to me that one cannot enroll the child directly without giving explanation about informed consent, which is why it is given while the child is still ill.

BMC Medical Ethics

A parent of a child with severe malaria suggested: The best moment to give the explanation to people is when the patient is recovered… It seems to me that one cannot enroll the child directly without giving explanation about informed consent, which is why it is given while the child is still ill.

BMC Medical Ethics

Don't go overboard with giving explanation details behind your excuses.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Here, the UV vis absorption spectra result will give explanation.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The given explanation is not clear.

Biology Direct

Several pathways could give explanation for our findings.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

I gave explanations last year.

The New York Times - Sports

They don't give explanations.

The New York Times

If I go, I will not give explanations".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using the grammatically correct form "giving an explanation" for clarity and formality. This ensures your writing adheres to standard English conventions.

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "an" before "explanation". Saying just "giving explanation" can sound awkward or ungrammatical to native English speakers. Always include the article unless there's a specific reason to omit it in a highly informal context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "giving explanation" functions as a gerund phrase, where "giving" acts as a verb taking "explanation" as its object. Although Ludwig AI indicates it's not entirely correct, it is used to describe the action of providing clarification or details.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "giving explanation" is understandable, it's generally considered grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI suggests that omitting the article "an" before "explanation" can detract from clarity, especially in formal contexts. It functions as a gerund phrase, primarily used to inform or clarify, with a tendency towards neutral or informal registers. Prefer using the grammatically correct alternative, "giving an explanation", particularly in professional or academic writing. Despite some occurrences in news and media, its grammatical status warrants caution, and more formal alternatives are often more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

providing an explanation

More formal and grammatically standard.

offering an explanation

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the act of offering.

presenting an explanation

Focuses on the act of formally presenting an explanation.

furnishing an explanation

More formal and less common.

supplying an explanation

Emphasizes the provision of details.

elucidating the reasons

More elaborate and focuses on clarifying reasons.

clarifying the details

Focuses on making the details clearer.

justifying the actions

Specifically refers to explaining actions to defend or validate them.

accounting for something

Explaining the cause or reason for something.

expounding on the matter

More elaborate and emphasizes detailed explanation.

FAQs

What's the difference between "giving explanation" and "giving an explanation"?

"Giving explanation" is often perceived as grammatically incorrect because the noun 'explanation' typically requires an article. "Giving an explanation" is the standard and grammatically sound way to express the action of providing clarification.

When is it appropriate to use "giving explanation" instead of "giving an explanation"?

While not generally recommended, "giving explanation" might be used in very informal contexts or when brevity is crucial. However, for professional or academic writing, "giving an explanation" is always preferable.

What are some alternatives to "giving explanation"?

You can use alternatives like "providing an explanation", "offering an explanation", or "presenting an explanation", depending on the context.

Is "giving explanation" considered formal or informal?

Because it deviates from standard grammatical norms, "giving explanation" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, always use "giving an explanation" or other more formal alternatives.