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Alex
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a question:
Can I use "to elaborate" as "to develop in detail", or should I use it only as "to provide more information about the topic", "to tell more about the subject" ?
Feb 14, 2025 3:47 AM
Answers · 9
1
Correction & Explanation:
1. "Tell more about the subject" → "explain more about a subject"
- "Explain" sounds more natural in this context. "Tell more" is usually used in casual speech, but "explain" fits better when discussing word meanings.
2. "Should I use it only as" → "should I only use it to mean"
- This small change makes the sentence clearer and more grammatically precise.
Tip:
Your original question is understandable, but when discussing word meanings, it's good to use "to mean" instead of "as", since you're asking about definitions rather than functions.
Feb 14, 2025 9:04 AM
1
You can elaborate on an idea or thought in both ways. You cannot apply elaborate to physical objects or entities, however. You would never elaborate a sculpture, but you could elaborate on your idea about a sculpture.
Feb 14, 2025 7:36 AM
1
You can use "to elaborate" both ways:
1. To develop in detail – Expanding on an idea with more complexity or depth.
2. To provide more information – Simply giving additional facts or explanations.
Both meanings are correct, but the context will clarify whether you're adding complexity or just more info.
Feb 14, 2025 4:25 AM
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Alex
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, Japanese, Russian
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), English, Japanese
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