this can be explained to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this can be explained to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something can be clarified or made understandable to someone. Example: "The complex theory of relativity can be explained to students in simpler terms."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This can be explained, to some extent, that students' prior levels of learning achievement had a positive effect on students' self-efficacy (Bandura, 1993), while self-efficacy is a significant predicator of students' academic motivation (Schunk, 1991).

Smart Learning Environments

This can be explained to a large degree by the fact that up until recently Americans have had food allergies that have been undiagnosed.

Bplans

This can be explained, to some extent, by the fact that we had to modify the network by using the minimal inputs together with distinct carbon sources, which resulted in many metabolites and reactions being always inactive at steady state.

Bioinformatics

This can be explained, to some extent, by annotation transfer between homologous protein sequences, by gene annotations that are transferred to all encoded proteins and by domain annotations that are almost identical for similar sequences.

Bioinformatics

This can be explained, to some extent, because this collection includes genes that only catalyze the central metabolism (Edwards and Palsson, 2000a) where alternative paths are numerous when we block a single gene.

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This uncertainty can be explained to a large extent by the POD estimation process.

Earth, Planets and Space

This similarity can be explained to be an inherent feature of strain derived from the first principle from grain size.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This degradation can be explained to arise from the higher roughness observed in the DBRs grown at 670 °C, which likely enhance the formation of point defects and compositional inhomogeneities in the quantum well.

Solid-State Electronics

This trend can be explained to be a consequence of partial aggregation of biomass at higher biomass beads, resulting in the decrease in effective surface area for biosorption (Karthikeyan et al. 2007; Gupta and Rastogi 2009).

Applied Water Science

I understand as much of the technical aspects of this as can be explained to someone who might have trouble turning on a computer.

Huffington Post

This relationship can be explained to the patient and can help to convey the level of improvements that may be achievable, thereby enabling the patients to form more realistic and objective goals.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this can be explained to", ensure the subject requiring explanation is clearly defined for better understanding.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice when using "this can be explained to". Actively state who is doing the explaining for a more direct and engaging sentence, for example using "I can explain this to you" instead of "This can be explained to you."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this can be explained to" functions as a hedge or qualifier, indicating a possibility of clarification or understanding. It sets the stage for providing an explanation or making something comprehensible. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it indicates that something can be clarified or made understandable to someone.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this can be explained to" is a grammatically sound expression used to introduce the possibility of clarification or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It functions as a hedge, often preceding a simplified explanation tailored to the audience. While generally neutral, its register can lean towards formal depending on the context. Primarily found in scientific and news sources, it’s best practice to clearly define the subject requiring explanation when using this phrase. Consider more active constructions for directness. Alternative phrases like "this can be clarified for" or "this can be made clear to" offer nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this can be made clear to

Highlights the act of making something understandable, shifting the focus to ease of comprehension.

this can be clarified for

Focuses on making something clear, changing the emphasis from explanation to clarity.

this can be understood as

Highlights interpretation and perception, shifting the focus to how something is perceived.

this can be elucidated to

Emphasizes detailed explanation, suggesting a more thorough and illuminating clarification.

this is explainable through

Directly indicates a method or means through which explanation is possible.

this may be accounted for by

Suggests providing a reason or justification, differing slightly from a simple explanation.

this could be attributed to

Focuses on identifying a cause or origin, changing the emphasis to causation.

this can be attributed to

Focuses on determining cause, implying a reason is definable.

this is due to

Changes the expression to a direct causal relationship.

a reason for this is

Introduces a reason, directly changing the structure of the sentence.

FAQs

What does "this can be explained to" mean?

It means that something can be clarified or made understandable to someone. It implies that an explanation exists and can be communicated effectively.

How can I use "this can be explained to" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a clarification or justification. For example, "The complex process "this can be explained to" novice users with a simple analogy."

What are some alternatives to "this can be explained to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "this can be clarified for", "this can be made clear to", or "this can be elucidated to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "this can be explained to"?

While "this can be explained to" is in the passive voice, consider using the active voice for more directness and clarity. For instance, instead of saying ""this can be explained to" you", try "I can explain this to you".