provide a satisfactory answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide a satisfactory answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the need for an answer that meets certain expectations or standards. Example: "In order to resolve the issue, please provide a satisfactory answer to the customer's complaint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

— Chris Jehle, San Francisco I'd have to do more research to provide a satisfactory answer.

The New York Times

WHILE LEAVING MUCH unresolved about the causes of civic disengagement Putnam does provide a satisfactory answer to some previous criticism.

Princeton University

The quest to provide a satisfactory answer to this question is now well into its second decade, with scholars, commentators and campaigners (on both sides of the argument) offering taxonomies and classification systems in an attempt to pin the term down.

The Guardian

That's because the text of the VPPA simply does not contemplate such a scenario, and cannot provide a satisfactory answer in this dispute.

TechCrunch

Furthermore, it may not provide a satisfactory answer to Frege's puzzle, as Frege himself denied that the cognitive significance of a sentence like (4) was metalinguistic.

SEP

Solutions proposed for solving this issue (structure masking, use of surrogate information) [28-30] failed to provide a satisfactory answer to the problem.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

One excuse to turn our backs is that mathematicians and scientists don't care much about these problems; another is that no one has ever provided a satisfactory answer to these questions, so no other philosophy can be preferred to naturalism on this basis.

The New York Times

The GLM are providing a satisfactory answer to many practical problems in the emerging quantitative analysis in the fields like environmental science and ecology.

Environmental Systems Research

This provides a satisfactory answer to the modest increase in the stability of the closed state for the S236A mutant protein.

Biochemistry

There are available papers in the literature but the results of these have not provided a satisfactory answer to the controversy [ 11- 14].

BMC Cancer

It is also shown that the earliest-deadline-first discipline and certain modifications thereof provide a satisfactory and final answer to all real-life scheduling needs.

Annual Reviews in Control

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provide a satisfactory answer", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'satisfactory' for your audience. Tailor the response to meet those specific expectations.

Common error

A common mistake is assuming everyone agrees on what a 'satisfactory' answer entails. Explicitly define criteria or expectations to avoid misinterpretations and unmet needs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide a satisfactory answer" functions as a verb phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It indicates the action of offering a response that meets a certain standard or expectation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provide a satisfactory answer" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the act of giving an acceptable and sufficient response. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid in written English and finds frequent application across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; explicitly define what constitutes a 'satisfactory' answer within the specific context to avoid misunderstandings. While alternatives like "give a convincing reply" or "offer a suitable response" exist, "provide a satisfactory answer" often implies a more formal and thorough response, maintaining its relevance and usability in professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer a suitable response

Highlights the appropriateness of the answer to the situation.

give a convincing reply

Focuses on the persuasiveness of the answer.

furnish an adequate explanation

Emphasizes the sufficiency of the explanation provided.

supply a sufficient clarification

Concentrates on making something clear enough.

present a valid justification

Stresses the legitimacy of the given reason.

deliver an acceptable solution

Highlights that the solution needs to be acceptable.

come up with a sound argument

Indicates that the argument should be logical and well-reasoned.

give an effective retort

Highlights the effectiveness of the comeback.

offer a comprehensive account

Emphasizes the completeness of the explanation.

present a compelling reason

Focuses on the compelling nature of the reason.

FAQs

How can I use "provide a satisfactory answer" in a sentence?

You can use "provide a satisfactory answer" to indicate the need for a response that meets certain expectations or standards. For example, "The company must "provide a satisfactory answer" to the customer's complaint to avoid legal repercussions".

What can I say instead of "provide a satisfactory answer"?

You can use alternatives like "give a convincing reply", "offer a suitable response", or "furnish an adequate explanation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "provide a satisfactory answer" or "give a satisfactory answer"?

Both "provide a satisfactory answer" and "give a satisfactory answer" are correct and commonly used. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What's the difference between "provide a satisfactory answer" and "offer a satisfactory answer"?

While both are similar, "provide a satisfactory answer" suggests a more formal and complete response, whereas "offer a satisfactory answer" might imply presenting one among several possible answers.