make things clear

USAGE SUMMARY

'make things clear' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to explain something in a way that is easily understood, or to outline a clear solution to a complicated problem. For example: "We need to make things clear before discussing the specifics of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

But the texts themselves begin to make things clear.

The New Yorker

They were all terrible, condescending, and didn't make things clear.

Independent

We wait for the trial to make things clear.

The New Yorker

I don't trust myself to make things clear.

The New York Times

"With time and good explanation, I think we can make things clear to our people".

The New York Times

She spoke in a rush, sniffling and sobbing, "O.K., I'll stop, but I want to make things clear to you.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Perhaps that will help make things clearer.

The New York Times - Books

Age can make things clearer.

The New Yorker

The list should make things clearer, he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We want to make things clearer for viewers and voters".

The New York Times

This restatement of the premise of scenario planning doesn't make things clearer for me.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make things clear" when you want to ensure your audience fully understands a situation, instruction, or concept. This phrase is particularly effective when simplifying complex information.

Common error

Avoid using "make things clear" in situations where the information is already straightforward. Overuse can make your communication sound condescending or unnecessarily verbose. Opt for simpler language when possible.

Linguistic Context

"Make things clear" functions as a directive phrase, used to emphasize the need for clarity or explanation. It's often used when conveying instructions, resolving confusion, or simplifying complex information. As evidenced by examples available on Ludwig, this phrase is effective in varied contexts, aiming for unambiguous understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

14%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make things clear" is a common and grammatically sound way to emphasize the need for clarity and understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across diverse contexts, especially in news and media, as well as academic settings. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overuse in overly simplistic situations. Alternatives like "clarify matters" or "elucidate the situation" may be more appropriate in formal contexts. Remember, the goal is always to ensure your message is easily understood by your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make something plain

Focuses on making a specific detail or aspect understandable.

clarify matters

Replaces "things" with "matters", focusing on the subject being clarified.

elucidate the situation

Uses a more formal verb, "elucidate", to convey a similar meaning with slightly increased sophistication.

shed light on

Employs a metaphor to suggest revealing or clarifying something that was previously obscure.

spell it out

Indicates explaining something very directly and explicitly, possibly when the audience is perceived as needing a simple explanation.

get the message across

Focuses on the successful communication of an idea or piece of information.

put it in plain terms

Emphasizes using simple, straightforward language to ensure understanding.

ensure comprehension

Highlights the goal of making sure the audience understands the information.

lay it on the line

Suggests being direct and honest, even if the information is difficult to hear.

set the record straight

Implies correcting a misunderstanding or inaccurate information.

FAQs

How can I use "make things clear" in a sentence?

You can use "make things clear" to indicate the act of clarifying something, as in, "The lawyer used a diagram to "make things clear" to the jury."

What's a more formal way to say "make things clear"?

More formal alternatives include "elucidate the situation" or "clarify matters", which are suitable for professional or academic settings.

Is it okay to say "make things clearer" instead of "make things clear"?

Yes, "make things clearer" is a grammatically correct and commonly used comparative form, suggesting an improvement in clarity rather than absolute clarity.

What's the difference between "make things clear" and "make things right"?

"Make things clear" refers to clarifying or explaining something, while "make things right" means to correct a wrong or resolve a problem.