please be clear

USAGE SUMMARY

"please be clear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a request to someone to explain or describe something in a way that is easy to understand. For example, "Can you please be clear about what specific skills you would like the candidate to have?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Please be clear".

The New York Times

Whatever else may be in doubt, please be clear on this: you deserve to have children with a partner whom you love and trust.

The New York Times - Style

Please be clear that I was not forecasting 10 individual years each with returns of 5 percent; the stock market just doesn't behave that way.

Forbes

"Please be clear: We will not go gently into the night on the issue of how we protect service members … or their families," Rep Denny Heck (D-Wash). told Kraninger.

Los Angeles Times

Please be clear: Unless you have a long track record of sales success genre such that you can be reasonably sure of future success, this sort of deal doesn't make sense.

HuffPost

Please be clear -- I am not suggesting that there aren't some violent offenders who should be incarcerated -- I am speaking about the "war on drugs" that we have been waging unsuccessfully for decades, of incarcerating for non-violent offenses.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Given that this is self-described as 'wry' and that you're 'taking the piss' can you please be clearer about your targets?

Vice

Please be clearer about the possible effects of this selective process.

eLife

This desire to please is clear on Saad's show, where all he had to say on the day a court dropped charges of killing protesters against Mubarak was: "Is it really important that we get into details?

The Guardian

Please be clear--I am not suggesting we want your son to drink!

HuffPost

In the Cadherin experiments, when talking about "fewer spindles", please be really clear about whether you mean a small fraction of the spindles that are seen, or a smaller total number of spindles.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "please be clear" in written communication, provide context about what specifically requires clarification. This helps the recipient understand your request and respond effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "please be clear" without specifying what aspect needs clarification. Vague requests can lead to misunderstandings and frustration. Instead, provide specific prompts or questions to guide the response.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please be clear" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to provide a clearer or more understandable explanation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a standard and usable request for clarification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Please be clear" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to request clarification, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an imperative, aiming to resolve ambiguity in various contexts. While generally neutral in tone, its formality can vary depending on the setting. Found most often in News & Media and Science sources, it's a common and useful expression for effective communication. When using this phrase, ensure you provide context to specify what aspect requires clarification to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it clearer

Focuses on improving the clarity of something already stated.

express yourself more clearly

Addresses the manner of expression, suggesting it lacks clarity.

could you clarify

This is a more polite and indirect way to ask for clarification.

be more explicit

Requests a direct and unambiguous explanation, leaving no room for interpretation.

please explain further

Directly requests additional explanation.

can you elaborate

Focuses on providing more detail rather than just being clear.

be more specific

Asks for greater detail and precision.

state it plainly

Requests a straightforward and unambiguous explanation.

give a clearer picture

Asks for a more understandable representation of a situation or idea.

spell it out

An informal way of asking for a very explicit explanation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "please be clear" to sound more polite?

You can use phrases like "could you clarify", "can you elaborate", or "please explain further" depending on the context.

What's a more formal alternative to "please be clear"?

In formal settings, consider using "be more explicit" or "express yourself more clearly" for a more professional tone.

When is it appropriate to use "please be clear"?

"Please be clear" is suitable when you need someone to provide a more understandable or unambiguous explanation. It's helpful when instructions or information are confusing or vague.

What does "please be clear" imply?

It implies that the current explanation is insufficient and requests a more straightforward and easily understandable response. It's a direct way to ask for better clarity.