resolve a puzzle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "resolve a puzzle" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the act of figuring out a puzzle or conundrum. For example: "Janet spent hours trying to resolve the puzzle, but eventually gave up and asked for help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Andrey Dellos, who on Tuesday will open an elaborate Russian restaurant on West 57th Street called Brasserie Pushkin, founded Café Pushkin in Moscow in 1999 to resolve a puzzle that had confounded visitors to that city, and even some locals, for 35 years.

The New York Times

The news, reported in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), may help resolve a puzzle: After Brazil, Colombia is the country that has been hardest hit by the mosquito-borne disease, yet it appeared to have far fewer microcephaly cases per capita than its southern neighbor.

Science Magazine

Three of these help resolve a puzzle that has long stumped modern science: Why do archetypal images, prayers and gestures exert a stubborn hold even on scientifically schooled minds?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It resolves a puzzle over the location of Richard's body that has eluded scholars and researchers for years.

The New York Times

It means that the opaque shura of royal-family elders known as the Hayat Al Bayah, or the Allegiance Council, has for now resolved a puzzle that had been hanging over the kingdom for decades, namely, how to move power within the royal family down a generation without causing a bloody fissure among cousins of the sort depicted on "Game of Thrones".

The New Yorker

These data potentially resolve a longstanding puzzle about the in vivo function of the PhoP-PhoQ two-component system, i.e. regulating bacterial virulence mainly by responding to CAMP rather than acidification of the Salmonella-containing phagosome and divalent cation limitation.

eLife

The paper by Harrison et al. in this issue, poses such specific questions by applying whole genome sequencing (WGS) to resolve an epidemiological puzzle that involves zoonotic transmission of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone in two farms located in Denmark (Harrison et al, 2013).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

This rate resolves a major puzzle about the pandemic by indicating that the experience of Japan was similar to that of other parts of Asia.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The new estimates are appreciably higher than the earlier estimates, bringing Japan's pandemic experience in line with that of other parts of Asia and resolving a major puzzle in the epidemiology of the 1918 19 pandemic.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

To help resolve this puzzle, we analyze a sample of college entrants in Germany with a discrete choice design that allows for social learning from the experiences of others.

Social Science Research

How philosophers resolve the puzzle turns on a central issue in moral psychology, namely, whether what is called the Humean theory of motivation is true.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the specific type of "puzzle" you are resolving. Is it a scientific mystery, a logical problem, or a personal dilemma? Choose vocabulary that reflects the nature of the puzzle.

Common error

Avoid using "resolve" for simple problems that don't require deep analysis. Use words like "fix" or "solve" for straightforward situations instead of reserving "resolve" for more complex or mysterious "puzzles".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "resolve a puzzle" functions as a verb phrase, where "resolve" is the main verb indicating the action of finding a solution, and "a puzzle" is the direct object representing the problem or mystery being solved. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Science & Research

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "resolve a puzzle" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe the act of finding a solution to a complex problem or mystery. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and readily usable in written English. While it appears mostly in News & Media, Science and Science & Research contexts, its usage spans various fields, indicating versatility. When using this phrase, consider the nature of the "puzzle" and tailor your vocabulary accordingly, avoiding its application to simple or mundane problems. Remember, alternatives like "solve a puzzle" or "figure out a riddle" can offer nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solve a mystery

Replaces "puzzle" with "mystery", implying a more hidden or obscure problem.

work out a conundrum

Replaces "resolve" with "work out" and "puzzle" with "conundrum", conveying a sense of intellectual effort.

figure out a riddle

Substitutes "resolve" with "figure out" and "puzzle" with "riddle", suggesting a more playful or enigmatic challenge.

unravel a problem

Employs "unravel" instead of "resolve" and "problem" instead of "puzzle", suggesting a complex issue that needs to be disentangled.

decipher an enigma

Uses more formal vocabulary, with "decipher" replacing "resolve" and "enigma" replacing "puzzle".

untangle a knot

Uses a metaphorical image of untangling to represent the process of solving a puzzle.

crack a code

Implies solving a puzzle by breaking a code, often associated with secrecy or encryption.

get to the bottom of a question

Shifts the focus to understanding the root cause of a question rather than solving a puzzle.

sort out a complication

Suggests organizing and clarifying a complex situation to resolve it.

find the key to a difficulty

Focuses on identifying the crucial element needed to overcome a difficulty, rather than solving a general puzzle.

FAQs

What does it mean to "resolve a puzzle"?

To "resolve a puzzle" means to find a solution or explanation for something that is confusing, mysterious, or difficult to understand. It implies a process of careful thought and investigation.

How can I use "resolve a puzzle" in a sentence?

You can use "resolve a puzzle" to describe the act of solving a problem, such as: "The detective worked tirelessly to "solve a mystery"", or "Scientists are using new data to "decipher an enigma" about the universe."

What are some alternatives to saying "resolve a puzzle"?

Some alternatives to "resolve a puzzle" include phrases like "solve a puzzle", "figure out a riddle", or "unravel a problem", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "resolve a puzzle" or "solve a puzzle"?

While both "resolve a puzzle" and "solve a puzzle" are grammatically correct, "resolve a puzzle" often implies a deeper level of understanding and analysis, while "solve a puzzle" can refer to a more straightforward solution.