Cool MateClarify vs Make it clear
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Clarify
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Make it clear
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Clarify
| Clarify | Make it clear | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈklærəfaɪ/","/ˈklærəfaɪz/","/ˈklærəfaɪd/","/ˈklærəfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈklærəfaɪ/","/ˈklærəfaɪz/","/ˈklærəfaɪd/","/ˈklærəfaɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ɪt klɪə//🇺🇸 //meɪk ɪt klɪr// |
| Meaning | To make something clear or easy to understand. | to explain something so it's easy to understand |
| Example | I need you to clarify your instructions so that everyone understands the task. | I need to make it clear what we expect from you. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | fully, exactly, further, attempt to, seek to, try to | make it clear to someone, make it abundantly clear, make it crystal clear |
| Antonyms | confuse, muddle, obscure | confuse, obscure, cloud |
| Common mistakes | 'Clear' is sometimes incorrectly used instead of 'clarify.', Confusing 'clarify' with 'intensify' because they sound similar., Using 'clarify' as a noun instead of a verb. | 'Make it clear' used interchangeably with 'make it clear to' without an object., Forgetting to follow it with a clear object (e.g., 'make it clear what')., Confusing 'make it clear' with 'make clear' which is more formal. |
| Usage notes | Use 'clarify' when you want to make something more understandable. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler words would suffice. | Use this phrase when clarifying information. It's appropriate in both spoken and written communication, but avoid in very formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Clarify vs Make it clear
What's the difference between Clarify and Make it clear?
Clarify: To make something clear or easy to understand. Make it clear: to explain something so it's easy to understand
Which is more common: Clarify and Make it clear?
Clarify is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Clarify: I need you to clarify your instructions so that everyone understands the task. Make it clear: I need to make it clear what we expect from you.
Can I use Clarify and Make it clear interchangeably?
Not always. Clarify and Make it clear are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.