please be specific

USAGE SUMMARY

"Please be specific" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to give more clear and detailed information. For example, "Can you tell me more about your plans for the weekend? Please be specific."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

If both yes and no, please be specific.

The Guardian - Books

"He said we had to be open to the conflicts, but please be specific about what we're doing to negatively impact the organization".

The New York Times - Sports

This year, I want to take your message to the WEF: please, be specific and to the point using the comment section below or tweet us @Greenpeace.

The Guardian

For us to respond as quickly as possible, please be specific about the records you are requesting.

Columbia University

They were braced against platitudes and evasion: "Please be specific, no generalizations," one readers said, surely speaking for all of us.

The New York Times

If the purpose of the grant is to conduct archival research, please be specific about the materials you intend to examine and how you know they will be available to you during the time of your planned visit.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 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

These letters or emails will be the sole basis of our decision, so please be as specific as possible and provide us with as much relevant information about your nominee or nominees.

Harvard University

To the degree possible, please be as specific as Mike has been in recommending Vanguard High-Yield Fund.

Forbes

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

Huffington Post

Note that the Obama Foundation Scholars Program has specific requirements, so please be sure to review that information.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Please be specific" when you need someone to provide clear and detailed information to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "Please be specific" if the context already implies a need for details. Overusing it can sound demanding or condescending.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please be specific" functions as an imperative, directly instructing the listener or reader to provide more detailed and precise information. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

18%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "please be specific" is a versatile and commonly used imperative phrase that requests more detailed and precise information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general applicability. While appropriate in many contexts—including academia, news media, and general conversation—it is crucial to avoid overuse, as it can come across as demanding. Remember, clarity is key when requesting information, and this phrase is a direct way to achieve it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be more precise

Similar to the original, but emphasizes accuracy over general detail.

State the specifics

Directly asks for the particular details of something.

Clarify your statement

Asks for a more understandable and unambiguous version of what was said.

Provide more details

Focuses on adding more information rather than emphasizing precision.

Go into more detail

Requests a deeper dive into the specifics of a topic.

Elaborate further

Asks for more explanation, emphasizing expansion of the current information.

Explain in greater depth

Focuses on the level of detail in the explanation.

Give a detailed account

Requests a thorough and comprehensive description of something.

Offer concrete examples

Requests tangible illustrations to support the statement.

Offer a clearer explanation

Focuses on making the explanation easier to understand.

FAQs

How do I use "please be specific" in a sentence?

You can use "please be specific" at the end of a question or request to emphasize the need for detailed information. For example, "When describing the incident, please be specific."

What's a more formal way to say "please be specific"?

More formal alternatives include "provide details" or "elaborate further", which can sound more polite in professional settings.

When is it inappropriate to say "please be specific"?

It might be inappropriate to use "please be specific" when someone is already providing a detailed explanation, or in contexts where it might sound condescending or impatient.

What's the difference between "please be specific" and "please be precise"?

"Please be specific" asks for more details in general, while "please be precise" asks for accuracy and exactness in the information provided. Precision focuses on correctness, while being specific focuses on thoroughness.