they outline how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they outline how" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the process or method by which something is explained or detailed. Example: "In the report, they outline how the new policy will be implemented across all departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

They outline how things ought to be.

The New York Times

They outline how evolutionary host-switching underlies recent newspaper headlines and come complete with discussion questions and suggestions for related lessons.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

In American Grace, by Robert Putnam and Joseph Campbell, they outline how not only are Millennials attending weekly religious services less than those belonging to older generations, but they are also attending at a lower rate than those generations did at the same age.

Huffington Post

Also, they outline how selection may have acted on gene networks that affect reproductive resource allocation and behavior to facilitate the evolution of social foraging in honey bees.

Plosone

They outline how "people's eligibility for medical attention and intervention is jointly negotiated between individuals and health services" (pp.42).

BMC Health Services Research

They outline how evolutionary resilience might be constructed and maintained and how it can be incorporated into policy and planning to ensure that species resilience is maintained in the face of a looming mass extinction.

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

They outlined how the story of the spaghetti harvest would go.

The Guardian - Books

But they outlined how the administration planned to deal with Mr. Kabila and Mr. Kagame during their visits.

The New York Times

They outlined how euro bonds might be used to ease financial pressure on countries like Greece, Spain or Italy while addressing German concerns by encouraging more prudent government spending.

The New York Times

They outlined how much Jewish households were permitted to spend in celebrating the circumcision of a baby boy — "to avoid making gentile neighbors envious," she said, "and also to make sure poorer Jews weren't living above their means".

The New York Times - Food

First, they outlined how, in just two days, USA Network had used Stream Server to build out an interactive portal that let fans talk about a show in real-time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they outline how" when you want to emphasize that a group is providing a structured explanation or plan.

Common error

Avoid using "they outline how" excessively in passive constructions. Instead, focus on active voice to make your writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they outline how" functions as a clause introducer, presenting a detailed explanation or a structured approach. It is used to describe the methods or steps proposed by a group to achieve a specific outcome. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they outline how" is a grammatically correct and usable way to introduce a structured explanation or plan, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not extremely common, it's frequently found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When writing, it is important to emphasize structured explanations by using "they outline how" and avoid overuse in passive constructions. Alternative phrases like "they describe how" or "they detail how" can be used for variety. Overall, using "they outline how" adds clarity when describing a group's proposed methods or strategies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they detail how

This suggests a comprehensive and thorough explanation.

they explain how

This is a more general way of saying that something is being clarified.

they describe how

This alternative focuses on giving a detailed account of the process.

they specify how

This alternative focuses on providing precise details about the method.

they show how

This alternative emphasizes the act of demonstrating the process.

they delineate how

This alternative suggests a clear outlining or demarcation of the process.

they clarify how

Focuses on making the process easier to understand.

they illustrate how

This alternative highlights the use of examples to explain the process.

they present how

Focuses on the act of showing or introducing the process.

they indicate how

This suggests that the information is being pointed out or signaled.

FAQs

What does "they outline how" mean?

The phrase "they outline how" means that a group is describing the steps or methods for a particular process or plan. It suggests a structured and organized explanation.

What can I say instead of "they outline how"?

You can use alternatives like "they describe how", "they explain how", or "they detail how" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they outline how"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. According to Ludwig, the phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is usable in written English.

In what contexts is "they outline how" commonly used?

The phrase is commonly used in academic, scientific, and news contexts to describe processes, plans, or methodologies. For example, a scientific paper might outline how a study was conducted, or a news article might outline how a new policy will be implemented.