should be clarified

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be clarified" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you are suggesting that something needs more information or to be explained more clearly. For example: "The details of the procedures for the project should be clarified before we move forward".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

something that should be clarified.

The New York Times

This should be clarified, see below.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"The laws should be clarified and expanded," he said.

The New York Times

Roles and responsibilities should be clarified at the outset.

Harvard Business Review

"This should be clarified, stated, given to the media to teach people about it," he said.

The New York Times

Issues like these should be clarified now, as they are likely to be contentious later.

Harvard University

It is concluded that the methods described in ISO2631-1 should be clarified and simplified.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Long-term study should be clarified whether kimchi intake associated with hypertension.

Kidney Research and Clinical Practice

From the wind engineering point of view, the turbulence effect on unstable oscillations should be clarified.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

If you meant semi-automatic weapons, then the distinction should be clarified.

The Economist

Consequently, the following points should be clarified.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, follow "should be clarified" with a specific indication of what needs clarification. This makes your feedback actionable. For example, instead of saying "The results should be clarified", say "The results should be clarified with a detailed explanation of the statistical analysis."

Common error

While "should be clarified" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak or evasive. Whenever possible, rephrase the sentence to use an active voice construction to clarify who is responsible for providing the clarification. For example, instead of "The process should be clarified", consider "The manager should clarify the process."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be clarified" primarily functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a suggestion or recommendation. It expresses the need for something to be made clearer or more understandable, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should be clarified" is a common and correct phrase used to suggest that something needs further explanation or detail. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, including science, news, academia, and business. While versatile, it's important to be specific about what needs clarification and to avoid overusing passive voice. Related phrases like "needs to be explained" and "ought to be elaborated" offer alternatives to express similar sentiments. The phrase is suitable for neutral to formal settings and is a valuable tool for constructive criticism and improvement suggestions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be made clearer

Highlights a lack of clarity and suggests improvement is needed.

needs to be explained

Focuses on the action of explaining rather than the state of clarity.

must be better defined

Implies that the term or concept lacks a clear and distinct definition.

requires further explanation

Highlights the necessity of additional details or information.

demands more detail

Emphasizes a strong need for more specific information.

ought to be elaborated

Suggests a need for expanding on a topic or idea to provide better understanding.

calls for greater precision

Indicates that the current level of accuracy is insufficient and needs improvement.

warrants further investigation

Suggests a deeper exploration to uncover more facts and insights.

is open to interpretation

Highlights ambiguity and the potential for multiple understandings.

begs the question

Suggests an underlying issue needs answering, shifting focus from simple clarification.

FAQs

How can I use "should be clarified" in a sentence?

You can use "should be clarified" to suggest that something needs further explanation or detail. For example: "The report's findings "should be clarified" with additional data."

What's a more formal way to say "should be clarified"?

More formal alternatives include "requires further elucidation" or "demands more detail". For instance, you might say: "The legal precedent requires further elucidation" instead of "The legal precedent "should be clarified"".

What can I say instead of "should be clarified" to emphasize the need for accuracy?

If you want to emphasize accuracy, consider using phrases like "needs to be verified" or "requires greater precision". Example: "The data "needs to be verified"" instead of "The data "should be clarified"".

Is "should be clarified" always the best choice, or are there times when it's too vague?

"Should be clarified" can be vague if you don't specify what needs clarification. Always aim to be specific about the aspect that needs more detail or explanation. For example, instead of "The methodology "should be clarified"", say "The methodology's statistical methods "should be clarified"."