making myself clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making myself clear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that you are ensuring your message or point is understood. Example: "I hope I'm making myself clear when I say that deadlines are non-negotiable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I hope I am making myself clear.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I guess I'm not making myself clear," he said.

The New Yorker

Am I making myself clear?" As plenty of readers will have heard by now, "Elena Ferrante" is a pen name.

The New Yorker

Maybe I wasn't making myself clear, but what I had in mind was an exchange of knowledge about manufacturing methods.

The New York Times

MR. OLSON -- Well, I'm not making myself clear, I think, is that the importance of Section 5 was to invite the state to do things that would the chaos and the conflict and the controversy and the unsettled situation that this country faced in 1876.

The New York Times

Am I making myself clear?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Do I Make Myself Clear?, by Harold Evans (Little, Brown).

The New Yorker

The prose throughout "Do I Make Myself Clear?" evokes the battlefield as well.

The New Yorker

"Just today alone, I've read three or four instances of the word 'advocate' being used incorrectly!" Evans, at eighty-eight, has published "Do I Make Myself Clear?: Why Writing Well Matters" — a polemic and style guide about our ever-growing need for concise, understandable prose.

The New Yorker

"Do I Make Myself Clear?" focusses on the usual suspects tackled by Strunk & White in "Elements of Style," or — more important to Evans — George Orwell: avoid the passive voice; eliminate redundancies; watch your pronouns; don't succumb to monologophobia (i.e., it's usually fine to repeat a word).

The New Yorker

Have I made myself clear?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making myself clear" when you want to ensure the listener or reader fully understands your point. It is particularly effective when you suspect there might be confusion or misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "making myself clear" too frequently, as it can come across as condescending or impatient. Instead, focus on clear and concise communication from the outset.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making myself clear" functions as a meta-communicative expression, indicating the speaker's intention to ensure their message is understood. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it used before or after a statement to emphasize its importance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making myself clear" is a valid and relatively common way to ensure your message is understood. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it's most frequently found in News & Media, it is applicable across various contexts. The key is to use it judiciously to avoid sounding condescending. Remember to focus on clear communication from the start and use this phrase as a tool to reinforce, rather than replace, clarity. Consider alternatives like "have I made myself understood" or "am I being understood" for subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Have I made myself understood?

This version places emphasis on the speaker's success in conveying the message.

In other words

This introduces a simpler explanation of a complex idea.

Am I being understood?

This alternative focuses on whether the listener comprehends the message.

Is that understandable?

This option checks if the information is comprehensible to the audience.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

This directly asks for confirmation of comprehension.

Let me explain it better

Indicates a willingness to improve clarity in the explanation.

Allow me to clarify.

This offers a more precise or detailed explanation.

Are you following me?

Focuses on whether the listener is keeping up with the explanation.

Let me rephrase that.

This suggests the need to explain something differently to achieve clarity.

To put it another way

This signals an attempt to explain something using different terms.

FAQs

What does "making myself clear" mean?

The phrase "making myself clear" means ensuring that one's message or point is easily understood by others. It's about effective communication and avoiding ambiguity.

How can I use "making myself clear" in a sentence?

You can use it to emphasize a crucial point. For example, "I hope I'm making myself clear when I say that this is non-negotiable".

What can I say instead of "making myself clear"?

You can use alternatives like "have I made myself understood", "am I being understood", or "in other words" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "making myself clear" or "making myself understood"?

Both are valid, but "making myself clear" focuses on the speaker's effort to be clear, while "making myself understood" emphasizes the listener's comprehension. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.