explanation

Everyday

1. An explanation is what you say or write to make something clear and easy to understand: an explanation of how plants grow. tree →
2. An explanation is a reason given for something that happened: is there an explanation for why you are late? tree →

In the lessons

At school, pupils write explanations (a genre in English: how or why something happens, with steps, «because», «so» and «therefore»); in maths, they must explain their working, not just give the answer; in science, they give explanations for results using evidence. In everyday life and manners, giving an honest explanation when you have done something wrong is better than excuses. Phrases: give an explanation, a clear explanation, explanation for, explanation of, no explanation.

Examples

• The teacher gave a clear explanation of fractions. tree →
• Can you give me an explanation for being late? tree →
• Write an explanation of how the water cycle works. tree →
• There must be a simple explanation for the strange noise. tree →
• In maths, show your working and an explanation. tree →
• He left without any explanation. tree →
• Scientists look for an explanation that fits the evidence. tree →
• "Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude to without more explanation." tree →

Note

Countable: explanations. Spelling trap: the verb is «explain» (with «ai»), but the noun is «explanation» (no «i»). Similar: reason; an «excuse» is a reason given to avoid blame, sometimes not true.

In Jewish tradition

At school, pupils write explanations (a genre in English: how or why something happens, with steps, «because», «so» and «therefore»); in maths, they must explain their working, not just give the answer; in science, they give explanations for results using evidence. In everyday life and manners, giving an honest explanation when you have done something wrong is better than excuses. Phrases: give an explanation, a clear explanation, explanation for, explanation of, no explanation.

Examples

• All the other commentaries mentioned above, together with all quotations of other expounders of the same book, contain nothing but a medley of arbitrary, mystical explanations and sophistical distortions of scriptural verses, astrological notions, oriental (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Countable: explanations. Spelling trap: the verb is «explain» (with «ai»), but the noun is «explanation» (no «i»). Similar: reason; an «excuse» is a reason given to avoid blame, sometimes not true.