largely explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely explain" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is explained in a significant but not complete manner. Example: "The report will largely explain the reasons for the project's failure, but it won't cover every detail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If so, differences in the way that you care for them may largely explain their individuality.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Overall, the study found that random mutations due to stem cell division could largely explain around 65% of cancer incidence.

The Guardian

Gladwell's more interesting claim is that social forces largely explain why some people work harder when presented with those opportunities.

The New York Times

This change may largely explain the recent scandals over uncouth American and British troops in Iraq and elsewhere.

The Economist

The absence of Halladay, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley for much of last season could largely explain the Phillies' troubles.

The New York Times - Sports

As this newspaper has often pointed out, guns largely explain why America's murder rate is several times that of other rich countries.

The Economist

There is a consensus that low wages largely explain the serious shortage of home-care workers in New York and other states, a shortage that is expected to worsen as the number of Americans over 80 climbs.

The New York Times

Men appear to age on average 4 percent faster than women, the scientists have found, which may largely explain why women's life expectancy exceeds men's by about 6 percent worldwide.

The New York Times - Health

In fact, residents say, the depredations of government officials here largely explain why the Taliban and their more effective administration of power and justice became so dominant in Marja in the first place.

The New York Times

Indeed, they largely explain why Chinese labor costs are up by double digits lately, but American imports of Chinese products have become less than 5 percent more expensive since 2010.

The New York Times

The geopolitics of oil largely explain the Russian invasion of Georgia.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "largely explain" is frequently used, consider using alternatives like "mainly clarify" or "primarily describe" for greater grammatical precision.

Common error

Avoid using "largely explain" in contexts where a more precise term like "fully explain" or "completely account for" is more appropriate, as it may imply ambiguity or incompleteness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely explain" functions as a verb phrase, indicating causation or reason. It suggests that something accounts for a significant portion, but not all, of a particular phenomenon. Despite Ludwig AI highlighting it as potentially incorrect, its frequent usage suggests it is commonly accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "largely explain" is used to indicate that something provides a significant, though not complete, explanation for a particular phenomenon. Despite its frequent appearance in reputable sources such as The New York Times and scientific journals, Ludwig AI identifies it as not strictly grammatically correct. Its function is to provide a reasoned explanation, often in neutral to formal contexts. While common, especially in scientific and news media, alternatives like "primarily explain" or "mainly clarify" may offer greater precision. Understanding these nuances can help writers choose the most appropriate phrasing for their intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chiefly explain

Replaces "largely" with "chiefly", indicating the main but not exclusive explanation.

primarily explain

Substitutes "largely" with "primarily", emphasizing the main explanatory factor.

mainly clarify

Replaces "largely explain" with "mainly clarify", suggesting the primary focus is on clarification.

largely account for

Focuses on the extent to which something is responsible for or explains a phenomenon.

substantially account for

Uses "substantially account for" instead of "largely explain", focusing on the contribution to a result.

principally clarify

Highlights the chief or main way in which something is made clearer.

significantly elucidate

Employs "significantly elucidate", highlighting the important clarification provided.

considerably clarify

Suggests the action of making something clearer to a notable extent.

greatly illuminate

Uses "greatly illuminate" to emphasize the extent to which something makes something else clear.

essentially clarify

Indicates the vital or fundamental need for clarification to happen.

FAQs

What does "largely explain" mean?

The phrase "largely explain" means to account for something to a significant extent, though not entirely. It suggests that while other factors may be involved, the primary reason or cause is being highlighted.

How can I use "largely explain" in a sentence?

You can use "largely explain" to indicate that a particular factor is the primary reason for a certain outcome. For instance, "Low wages "largely explain" the shortage of home-care workers".

What can I say instead of "largely explain"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily explain", "mainly clarify", or "substantially account for" depending on the context.

Is "largely explain" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "largely explain" is commonly used, Ludwig AI identifies it as not entirely correct. More precise alternatives may include "chiefly explain" or similar phrases to ensure grammatical accuracy.