to clear up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to clear up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to clarify or resolve a misunderstanding or confusion about something. Example: "I need to clear up the confusion regarding the meeting time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To clear up the confusion.

The New York Times - Sports

We wanted to clear up any confusion.

The New York Times

Have to clear up every 15 minutes.

The New York Times - Magazine

There's a philosophical matter to clear up.

The Guardian

Chandler steps across to clear up.

The Guardian - Sport

Instead, the Germans began to clear up.

The Guardian - Books

They tried to clear up the case.

The New York Times - Style

These cost roughly £45m to clear up.

The Guardian

It was necessary to clear up Field Marshal Paulus' error.

Yale University

Any other things to clear up before I ask questions?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I can't claim to clear up all the uncertainty.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to clear up" when aiming to eliminate confusion or resolve misunderstandings. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being clarified or resolved.

Common error

While "to clear up" is widely understood, it can sound informal in professional documents. In such cases, consider using more formal alternatives such as "to clarify" or "to elucidate".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "to clear up" functions primarily to indicate the act of making something understandable, resolving a confusion, or improving a situation. Ludwig examples show it used across various contexts, from clarifying errors to resolving awkward issues.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to clear up" is a versatile phrasal verb primarily used to describe the act of resolving confusion or clarifying information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It is commonly found in news, academic writing and general discourse, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in strictly professional or scientific contexts. Key considerations include ensuring the context is appropriate for its moderately informal tone and choosing synonyms like "to clarify" or "to resolve" when a more formal register is required. The phrase's high frequency and presence in reputable sources underscore its reliability and broad acceptance in English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to clarify

Focuses specifically on making something easier to understand by providing more detail or explanation.

to make clear

A direct and simple way of saying something needs to be easily understood.

to resolve

Implies a more formal or decisive settlement of a problem or issue.

to sort out

Suggests organizing or dealing with something that is disordered or problematic.

to explain

Focuses on providing details so that someone can understand the topic.

to elucidate

Offers a formal tone, emphasizing detailed explanation to shed light on a complex topic.

to define

Highlights the act of stating something clearly and precisely, often used when precision is important.

to get straight

Indicates aiming for accuracy or a correct understanding, often after confusion.

to straighten out

Similar to 'sort out' but can also imply correcting something that was wrong.

to iron out

Implies smoothing out difficulties or minor problems to reach a final agreement or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "to clear up" in a sentence?

You can use "to clear up" to indicate resolving confusion or misunderstandings. For example, "I need "to clear up" some details before we proceed" or "Let's "to clear up" any confusion regarding the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "to clear up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to clarify", "to resolve", or "to explain" instead of "to clear up".

Is it better to use "to clarify" or "to clear up"?

While both phrases aim to make something more understandable, "to clarify" is generally more formal and suitable for professional or academic contexts. "To clear up" is more commonly used in informal conversations or general writing.

What's the difference between "to clear up" and "to clean up"?

"To clear up" refers to resolving confusion or misunderstandings, while "to clean up" refers to physically tidying or removing mess. For example, "We need "to clear up" the misunderstanding" versus "Please to clean up your room".