provide a narrative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone to give a descriptive or detailed account of something. For example, "Please provide a narrative of what happened during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To provide a narrative review of the impact of provider-based, organizational strategies in acute care settings to improve pneumococcal vaccination rates among patients over 65, and 2 64 years with high risk medical conditions.

Preventive Medicine

Costumes are created for movies to provide a narrative and visual context.

The New York Times - Arts

Needless to say, they are never answered – that would provide a narrative.

The Guardian - Arts

His e-mail messages provide a narrative of his paranoid episodes, dating to 2000.

The New York Times

Story maps, as the name indicates, provide a narrative linked to specific locations.

Harvard University

The speech also should help disprove the ridiculous criticism that Obama's speeches fail to provide a narrative.

The New York Times

Talk about what you are doing, so you use language to provide a narrative for a visual experience.

The Guardian

It is intended to give you the opportunity to provide a narrative about your diverse lived-experiences.

University of California, Berkeley

At the conclusion of the internship, the on-site supervisor will also provide a narrative evaluation of your performance.

Cornell University

The Web site will provide a narrative of the thinking and a record of the new "front page" as it evolves on the gallery's walls.

The New York Times

We provide a narrative review of the risks and benefits of exercise in active individuals with CVD, and our approach to evaluating and managing these risks.

Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provide a narrative", ensure the context calls for a detailed and coherent account of events or information. This phrase is suitable when you want someone to offer a comprehensive story or explanation, not just a summary.

Common error

Avoid using "provide a narrative" when a brief summary or outline is sufficient. A narrative implies a detailed, story-like account, so ensure the situation warrants this level of depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide a narrative" functions as a verb phrase, where "provide" is the main verb and "a narrative" serves as the direct object. It is used to express the action of giving or offering a detailed account or story. Ludwig AI indicates this usage aligns with common English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "provide a narrative" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that calls for presenting a detailed and structured account of events or information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability for various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and academic settings. The phrase is generally formal and requires a comprehensive, story-like explanation rather than a brief summary. Alternatives include "give an account", "present a story", and "offer a description". Common errors involve using it when a simple summary would suffice. It is a very common phrase supported by authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer a story

Replaces "narrative" with "story", which is a more general term for an account of events.

present an account

Substitutes "provide" with "present" and "narrative" with "account", focusing on giving a structured explanation.

give a description

Replaces "narrative" with "description", which is a broader term for detailing characteristics or features.

share a tale

Uses "share" instead of "provide" and "tale" as a more informal substitute for "narrative".

impart a chronicle

Replaces "provide" with the more formal "impart" and "narrative" with "chronicle", emphasizing a historical record.

deliver a recitation

Uses "deliver" for "provide" and "recitation" to denote a formal telling or repeating of information.

offer an exposition

Substitutes "narrative" with "exposition", emphasizing a detailed explanation of a subject.

furnish a rendition

Replaces "provide" with "furnish", which is a more formal synonym, and "narrative" with "rendition", meaning an interpretation or performance.

supply a portrayal

Uses "supply" for "provide" and "portrayal" as a way to describe or depict something in a narrative form.

detail a sequence

Substitutes "narrative" with "sequence", focusing on ordering events in a specific order.

FAQs

What does "provide a narrative" mean?

The phrase "provide a narrative" means to give a detailed account or story about something. It implies offering a comprehensive explanation that includes a sequence of events or connected details.

How can I use "provide a narrative" in a sentence?

You might use it like this: "The historian was asked to "provide a narrative" of the events leading up to the war."

What are some alternatives to "provide a narrative"?

You can use alternatives like "give an account", "present a story", or "offer a description" depending on the context.

Is "provide a narrative" formal or informal?

The phrase "provide a narrative" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts. It's less common in casual conversation.