Cool MateExplain vs Make it clear
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Explain
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Make it clear
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Explain
| Explain | Make it clear | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //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 | Can you explain how this machine works? | 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 | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something, in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something | make it clear to someone, make it abundantly clear, make it crystal clear |
| Antonyms | confuse, obscure, complicate | confuse, obscure, cloud |
| Common mistakes | Using 'explain' without an object, e.g., 'I will explain' instead of 'I will explain the concept.', Confusing 'explain' with 'describe' – 'explain' is about making something clear, while 'describe' is about detailing., Misusing the tense, e.g., saying 'I explained' when referring to a future action. | '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 'explain' when you want to clarify or make something easier to understand. It's appropriate in both speaking and writing, but avoid using it in highly formal contexts where more technical terms might be preferred. | 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: Explain vs Make it clear
What's the difference between Explain and Make it clear?
Explain: To make something clear or easy to understand. Make it clear: to explain something so it's easy to understand
Which is more common: Explain and Make it clear?
Explain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Explain: Can you explain how this machine works? Make it clear: I need to make it clear what we expect from you.
Can I use Explain and Make it clear interchangeably?
Not always. Explain 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.