that best explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that best explain" is not correct as it should be "that best explains" to agree with the singular subject.
You can use it when referring to a singular subject that provides the most accurate or clear explanation. Example: "The theory that best explains the phenomenon is the one proposed by Einstein."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dr Brooks suggests that it is not health-related factors, but rather competition and violence among men that best explain a woman's penchant for manliness.

The Economist

The procedure for the selection of the p variables that best explain the diameter increment is described later.

Forest Ecosystems

These six strata are the environmental variables that best explain total variation in carbon across Perú [6].

Carbon Balance and Management

Model selection using AIC criteria allowed us to identify the time period over which to consider management practices that best explain plant patterns.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Selecting variables using Akaike's information criterion, two linear regression models were created that best explain the parathyroid hormone concentration and the concentration of albumin-adjusted calcium.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Topic modelling algorithms reverse this process in order to find assignments for the two distributions that best explain a set of documents.

Forest Ecosystems

Given the scanned signal at a particular voxel, we want to estimate the underlying model parameters that best explain this signal.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

One proceeds until reaching (for the time being) a reflective equilibrium in considered judgments, including judgments about the rules that best explain one's inferences.

SEP

In the second, explanatory, context the focus is on selecting from the whole complex the particular condition or conditions that best explain a given outcome.

SEP

If there are already data in, then, clearly, one may assign higher priors to hypotheses that best explain the then-available data.

SEP

To identify the floral traits that best explain the observed pollinators we analysed and compared the floral scent composition, the flower colour, flower morphology, and nectar sugar composition of the two species.

Flora

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you're trying to explain the plural form, use 'that best explain' - Although technically still an issue, it will sound more proper.

Common error

Avoid using "that best explain" with singular subjects. This violates subject-verb agreement. Use "that best explains" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that best explain" functions as a relative clause modifying a noun. However, it contains a grammatical error because the verb "explain" does not agree with a singular antecedent. Ludwig AI underscores this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that best explain" is a commonly used phrase that aims to identify elements offering the most suitable explanation. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement, advising "that best explains" for singular subjects. While prevalent in scientific and news contexts, ensuring grammatical accuracy enhances clarity and credibility. Therefore, always verify subject-verb agreement, or rephrase the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that best explains

Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular verb form to agree with a singular antecedent.

which most clearly elucidate

Replaces "explain" with "elucidate" and uses "most clearly" for emphasis on clarity.

that most accurately describe

Emphasizes accuracy in the description rather than general explanation.

that effectively account for

Focuses on providing a comprehensive account of something.

that perfectly clarify

Highlights the perfection of the clarification provided.

that comprehensively detail

Emphasizes the detailed and thorough nature of the explanation.

that precisely delineate

Focuses on precise and clear outlining or defining.

which best represent

Replaces the term "explain" with "represent", which means to serve as a sign or symbol of something.

that predominantly illustrate

Replace the term "explain" with "illustrate", which means to clarify by giving an example.

that optimally illuminate

Highlights that alternative sheds light for a better understanding of a subject.

FAQs

How do I correct the phrase "that best explain"?

The correct form depends on the subject it modifies. For a singular subject, use "that best explains". For a plural subject, rephrase to avoid the issue, such as "the factors that best explain".

Is "that best explain" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, "that best explain" is grammatically incorrect. The verb form "explain" does not agree with a singular antecedent. Use "that best explains" for singular subjects.

What are some alternatives to "that best explain"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you can use alternatives like "that most clearly elucidate", "that most accurately describe", or "that effectively account for".

When can I use "explain" instead of "explains"?

Use "explain" when the subject is plural (e.g., "the theories that explain the data"). Avoid using "explain" directly after "that" referring to a singular subject; use "that best explains" instead.