please be more specific

USAGE SUMMARY

'please be more specific' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone to provide greater detail about something they have said. For example: "I don't understand what you mean." "Please be more specific - what part don't you understand?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Now, please be more specific concerning the date when a wolf brought you to this cross Was it in winter or summer and what year?

Yale University

Kelley should have Coffman back on the show and ask him to, please, be more specific.

Huffington Post

DENNISKNEALE: Please be more specific, Aaron what kind of business are you in and what specifically do you mean by "minimization" (of what?) permits gaining vlaue in "more than one theater".

Forbes

JUDGE: Please be more specific, Mr. Woods.

The New Yorker

Please be more specific about the region of alpha-actinin that was fused (what is meant by "half of an a-actinin rod"?) State what amino acid numbers were used.

eLife

R3: In the Background section: It is not clear what study this sentence refers to "Although the reported per protein transmembrane topology prediction accuracies of the various algorithms were shown to be above 80%%, they reached rather low prediction accuracies on a human benchmark set (see below)."; please be more specific with respect to the source of this data.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Be more specific, please.

The Washington Post

"Be more specific, please," Nielsen said.

Huffington Post

Do you just go up and say "one please," or do you have to be more specific and ask for medium, medium-rare, etc?

Huffington Post

Be more specific?

The New Yorker

Let me be more specific.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow up a general request for specificity with a more targeted question to guide the response. For instance, instead of only saying "Please be more specific", add "...about the timeline for the project."

Common error

After prompting someone to be more specific, avoid responding with equally vague statements or questions. This can lead to further confusion and frustration. Instead, actively listen and ask targeted follow-up questions to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please be more specific" functions as a direct request for elaboration or clarification. It prompts the speaker or writer to provide additional details or context, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples. Its purpose is to seek a more precise and detailed explanation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "please be more specific" is a grammatically sound and usable request for clarification, though it's relatively rare in occurrence. Ludwig indicates its function is to prompt for further details, aiming for greater clarity and precision. While versatile, its tone leans toward neutral, making it suitable for various contexts but with consideration for formality. The phrase commonly appears in News & Media, Academic and Scientific sources. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "could you elaborate" for a more polite approach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Could you elaborate?

More concise and polite.

Can you give more details?

Focuses on requesting additional information.

Please clarify.

More direct and concise request for clarification.

Can you be more precise?

Emphasizes the need for accuracy and exactness.

What exactly do you mean?

Directly asks for the intended meaning.

Expand on that, please.

Requests further development of the current point.

Tell me more about it.

A more open-ended request for additional information.

Can you provide further context?

Asks for more background information.

What are the specifics?

Focuses on concrete details.

Explain in more detail.

Directly asks for a more thorough explanation.

FAQs

How do I politely ask someone to "please be more specific"?

You can soften the request by using phrases like "Could you elaborate on that?" or "Can you provide more details?" These alternatives are less direct but still convey the need for greater clarity. Consider also adding a reason why you need more information.

What are some alternatives to saying "please be more specific" in a formal setting?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "Could you provide further clarification?" or "I would appreciate it if you could elaborate on that point". These options maintain a professional tone while still requesting more detail.

Is "please be more specific" considered rude?

While generally not considered rude, "please be more specific" can come across as direct. The tone depends heavily on your inflection and the context. In sensitive situations, using a softer alternative like "could you elaborate" might be preferable.

How can I use "please be more specific" effectively in writing?

In writing, follow "please be more specific" with a direct question about the area needing clarification. For example, "Please be more specific: what aspects of the proposal require revision?" This provides clear direction for the reader.