make it more specific

USAGE SUMMARY

"make it more specific" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when you want the other person to provide more details or clarity about a particular topic. For example, "Can you tell me more about your project? Make it more specific."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

He said the best way to improve the explanation and make it more specific was to make better measurements of the planet's energy budget.

The Guardian

He wanted scientists to do better.He said the best way to improve the explanation and make it more specific was to make better measurements of the planet's energy budget.

The Guardian

Although the technology is predicted to advance further, various amendments must be made to make it more specific, safe, and efficient.

Protein & Cell

Although it is entirely true that the resume has to be well written and have good content, the cover letter's job is to point to what lies inside, and to make it more specific to that reader.

Science Magazine

But perhaps once one considers the GTT explicitly, accepts the underdetermination of 'case' and considers a few of the ways it can be made more precise to get different logics, it just seems clear that there will be several alternative ways to make it more specific, with none singled out as more correct than the others by current usage.

SEP

How can you make it more specific and commit to it?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

By Tuesday the prime minister had made it more specific.

The Guardian - Business

I'd always been interested in history, and this kind of honed that interest, made it more specific.

Columbia University

As the investigation continues and more knowledge is gained about the nature of the cases, the definition may be narrowed, making it more specific.

Britannica

Often, we do this by re-interpreting some moral principle that we had started with, whether by making it more specific, making it more abstract, or in some other way (cf. Richardson 2000).

SEP

It's clear that this request by Sony is either lazy or malicious: they could have made it more specific, but didn't bother.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking for clarification, be direct and explain why more specificity is needed. This helps the other person understand your request and provide a more targeted response.

Common error

Don't just say "make it more specific" without indicating what needs clarification. Providing context or pointing to the ambiguous area helps avoid misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make it more specific" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to provide additional details or clarification. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make it more specific" is a common and grammatically correct way to ask for more detailed information or clarification. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English, especially within scientific, news, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, it's best to provide context or indicate which aspect needs clarification to ensure a targeted and helpful response. Related phrases include alternatives like "specify further" or "add more detail".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specify further

Asks for additional specification and more defined parameters.

clarify the specifics

Focuses on making the particular aspects easier to understand.

add more detail

Focuses on increasing the amount of information provided.

provide greater clarification

Emphasizes improving understanding through clearer explanation.

offer a more precise explanation

Highlights the need for accuracy and exactness in the explanation.

elaborate further

Suggests expanding on the current information with additional details.

be more explicit

Indicates a need for direct and unambiguous communication.

refine the details

Implies improving the existing details to be more accurate.

narrow it down

Suggests focusing on a smaller, more particular aspect.

give concrete examples

Encourages the use of tangible instances to support the explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "make it more specific" in a sentence?

You can use "make it more specific" when asking someone to provide additional details or clarification. For example, "The instructions are unclear; can you "make it more specific"?"

What's a less direct way to ask someone to "make it more specific"?

Instead of directly asking someone to "make it more specific", you could phrase it as, "Could you "elaborate further" on that point?" or "Could you "provide greater clarification"?"

What does it mean to "make it more specific"?

To "make it more specific" means to provide additional details, context, or examples to clarify a statement or instruction. It involves moving from general terms to particular instances.

Which is better, "make it more specific" or "be more specific"?

Both "make it more specific" and "be more specific" are grammatically correct and usable. "Make it more specific" is an instruction directed at someone else, while "be more specific" is a more direct command. The best choice depends on the context and your relationship with the person you're addressing.