

Instead of asking, “Could you please explain…?” be sure to ask, “Could you please clarify…?” instead. If you do choose to use “explain,” be sure to be very specific about what you need explained, naming a particular idea, detail, or viewpoint. When I share ways to clarify what you heard, you’ll notice that the verb “explain” is almost completely absent. They show the other person that you are listening carefully and participating in the conversation, and that you want to be sure you understood everything. Learning to clarify what you heard and confirm your understanding are two of the most important conversation skills in English. Here are some synonyms of affect: alter, change, influence.
#To clarify synonym how to
Of course, if you do need a longer, more detailed explanation, you want to use the verb “explain” rather than “clarify.”īut if you only need a small detail explained to you, choose the verb “clarify” instead. Here is a basic guideline for affect or effect that can help clarify how to use the two. As the example illustrates, all group members are asked to find synonyms for a. Or perhaps the other person wasn’t fully clear (it happens!) so they need to restate their idea another way. And now everyone please write a sentence using his or her synonym for work. When you ask someone to clarify something for you, it suggests that you are following what the person is saying and understand the majority or all of the key points, but you need more details on a certain point. When you ask someone to explain something to you, it suggests that you’re pretty lost, that you missed key points, or that they need to give you a more in-depth explanation so that you fully understand. The Subtle Difference Between Explain and Clarify The reality is that there’s a subtle, but significant, difference between the words “explain” and “clarify.”

You understand his overall ideas, but would like a few more details, so you ask him this question: “Could you please explain this to me?”īut for some reason, he starts over from the beginning, as if you didn’t understand anything he said at all.
#To clarify synonym professional
Need more information in a professional situation, business meeting, seminar, or conference? Ask for clarification, NOT an explanation.Īfter listening carefully to your colleague’s presentation in a business meeting, you realize you still need a little more information before giving your feedback.
