in an effort to explain

USAGE SUMMARY

"in an effort to explain" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to introduce a reason or justification for the action or statement that follows. Example: In an effort to explain her absence, she provided a detailed account of the unexpected family emergency that had occurred over the weekend.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Ours is an inclusive party," Mr. Labastida said in an effort to explain the contradiction.

The New York Times

He invoked "duty" in an effort to explain his own version of Kantianism.

The Guardian - Opinion

But in an effort to explain the origins of the myth of pedophilia, Leach also advances a theory that strikes this reader as too subtle by half.

The New York Times - Books

In this case, Favre had confirmed the Jets' noncompliance, most likely in an effort to explain why he played so poorly down the stretch.

The New York Times - Sports

Ettlinger investigates, in order, every ingredient on the box, in an effort to explain to his kids where high-fructose corn syrup, for example, comes from.

The New Yorker

He has visited several other planets on his way to Earth and relates his encounters in an effort to explain the sorrow and complexity of the world.

The Guardian - Books

In an effort to explain himself, he spits out a string of suggestively inarticulate nouns: "bebé, padres, crimen, tres muertos, politico, negros, imperialismo, Nueva York".

The New York Times - Books

A number of meteorologists urged AccuWeather to "show their work" in an effort to explain the science leading to their 1,075 tornado prediction.

The Washington Post

But this is one of several theories put forth in an effort to explain this truly bizarre case and any deeper issues that may inform it.

The Washington Post

In an effort to explain this evolutionary bifurcation, we determined whether antiviral RNAi was sufficient to replace the protein-based type I interferon (IFN-I) system of mammals.

Cell Reports

In an effort to explain and understand this so-called privacy paradox, this paper investigates aspects of trust and perceptual differences, based on empirical research.

Computers & Security

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in an effort to explain" to clearly signal that you are about to provide a reason or justification, ensuring your reader understands the purpose of the information that follows.

Common error

While "in an effort to explain" is useful, avoid using it excessively. Over-reliance can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "to clarify" or "to account for" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in an effort to explain" functions as a purpose connector, linking an action or statement to its intended explanation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it introduces the reason or justification for what follows.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

39%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in an effort to explain" functions as a purpose connector, signaling an intention to clarify or justify an action, statement, or phenomenon. As Ludwig AI points out, it is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. Its formality is neutral to slightly formal, rendering it appropriate for a broad range of professional and informative writing scenarios. Although interchangeable with alternatives like "to clarify" or "to account for", it's crucial to avoid overuse to preserve writing clarity. The prevalence across varied sources attests to its usefulness in providing context and rationales in explanations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order to explain

A slightly more formal variant with the same core meaning.

with the aim of explaining

Highlights the intention or goal of the explanation.

as a means of explaining

More verbose but emphasizes the method of explanation.

to clarify

Emphasizes making something easier to understand.

by way of explanation

More formal and often used in written contexts.

to elucidate

Focuses on clarifying a complex topic.

as an explanation

Functions as a noun phrase offering an explanation.

to account for

Highlights providing a reason or cause.

to give insight into

Focuses on providing a deeper understanding.

to rationalize

Suggests justifying something that might be questionable.

FAQs

How can I use "in an effort to explain" in a sentence?

Use "in an effort to explain" to introduce a reason or justification for something. For instance, "In an effort to explain the budget deficit, the finance minister held a press conference".

What are some alternatives to "in an effort to explain"?

You can use alternatives like "to clarify", "to account for", or "with the aim of explaining" depending on the context.

Is "in an effort to explain" formal or informal?

"In an effort to explain" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal, suitable for both written and spoken contexts, but is better suited for formal writing.

What's the difference between "in an effort to explain" and "in order to explain"?

While similar, "in order to explain" focuses more on the intention or purpose, whereas "in an effort to explain" emphasizes the action taken to provide an explanation.