please elaborate

USAGE SUMMARY

"please elaborate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to provide more details about a certain topic or idea. For example: "I heard that you visited Italy last month - please elaborate on your travels."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Can you please elaborate?

The Washington Post

Please elaborate on your findings.

The New York Times

Do please elaborate on how this worked?

The Economist

Could you please elaborate on the egg allergy situation?

Harvard University

Can you please elaborate me about American Football??

University of California, Berkeley

"Could you please elaborate?" The black guy cocked his head and frowned, as if the beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks of his experiment had grown legs and scurried off.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

I would be pleased to elaborate and if this is the appropriate place to do so, please let me know and I will provide you with my opinion.

Harvard University

Could you elaborate please?" You've gained a moment to compose yourself and work out a more measured response.

The Guardian

Elaborate, please.

The New York Times

Elaborate, please If, like most British females, you're a bit heavier on your bottom half then steer away from voluminous leather or white-silk versions.

Independent

Please permit me to elaborate on one of the reasons for Westchester County's failure to achieve its affordable housing goal of 5,000 units in the last decade ("Addressing the County's No. 1 Need," May 14).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "please elaborate" in formal writing, ensure it's followed by a specific aspect or question to guide the response. This focuses the elaboration and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Don't use "please elaborate" without specifying what you want the speaker or writer to elaborate on. Vague requests can lead to unfocused and unhelpful responses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please elaborate" functions as an imperative, specifically a polite request. It directs the recipient to provide more detailed information or explanation about a previously mentioned topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and widely used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "please elaborate" is a common and grammatically sound way to request more detail or explanation. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. It's frequently used in academic, scientific, and news media contexts. While polite, it's direct enough for professional use, and alternative phrases like "could you provide more details?" or "can you "expand on that"?" offer varying degrees of formality. When using "please elaborate", it's best to specify the aspect requiring further explanation to ensure a focused and helpful response.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Could you provide more details?

More formal and polite, using a question structure.

Can you expand on that?

Slightly less formal, focusing on expanding a specific point.

Explain further, please.

More direct and concise, reversing the order of words.

Please clarify.

Focuses on making something clearer, implying potential ambiguity.

Tell me more about it.

More conversational, inviting a broader explanation.

I'd appreciate further explanation.

Expresses appreciation for additional details, more polite.

Give me the details.

More informal and direct, suitable for casual settings.

Elaborate on the matter.

More formal and emphasizes the importance of the subject.

Please go into more detail.

Focuses specifically on adding more specific details.

Enlarge upon this theme.

More literary and academic, suited for discussing broader themes.

FAQs

How can I use "please elaborate" in a sentence?

You can use "please elaborate" to politely ask someone to provide more details about something they have said. For example, "You mentioned a new strategy; please elaborate."

What is a more formal alternative to "please elaborate"?

More formal alternatives include "Could you provide more details?" or "I would appreciate it if you could "expand on that"".

When is it appropriate to use "please elaborate"?

It's appropriate in situations where you need more information or clarification. It works well in both written and spoken communication, especially when seeking deeper understanding.

Is "please elaborate" suitable for all types of communication?

While generally acceptable, consider the context. In highly formal settings, a more nuanced request, such as "Could you "clarify" further?", might be preferred.