Cool MateClarify vs Could you be slightly more specific
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Clarify
Could you be slightly more specific
| Clarify | Could you be slightly more specific | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈklærəfaɪ/","/ˈklærəfaɪz/","/ˈklærəfaɪd/","/ˈklærəfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈklærəfaɪ/","/ˈklærəfaɪz/","/ˈklærəfaɪd/","/ˈklærəfaɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //kəd juː biː ˈslaɪtli mɔː sɪˈspɛɪfɪk//🇺🇸 //kəd ju bi ˈslaɪtli mɔr spəˈsɪfɪk// |
| Meaning | To make something clear or easy to understand. | Can you give a clearer or more detailed answer? |
| Example | I need you to clarify your instructions so that everyone understands the task. | Could you be slightly more specific about the project's timeline? |
| 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 | be specific about, more specific details, specific instructions, specific examples, specific timeframe |
| Antonyms | confuse, muddle, obscure | - |
| 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. | Using 'specific' without 'more' can sound abrupt., Adding unnecessary words makes it less direct., Assuming the speaker understands your request without asking first. |
| 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 asking someone to clarify or elaborate. It's polite and suitable for formal and casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Clarify vs Could you be slightly more specific
What's the difference between Clarify and Could you be slightly more specific?
Clarify: To make something clear or easy to understand. Could you be slightly more specific: Can you give a clearer or more detailed answer?
Which is more common: Clarify and Could you be slightly more specific?
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. Could you be slightly more specific: Could you be slightly more specific about the project's timeline?
Can I use Clarify and Could you be slightly more specific interchangeably?
Not always. Clarify and Could you be slightly more specific 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.