- Have you ever hesitated between saying “make an explanation” or “give an explanation”?
- Do you want to describe a reason more professionally than just saying it was “good” or “bad”?
- Are you unsure which preposition—”for,” “of,” or “about”—should follow the word explanation?
Mastering collocations with the word explanation is a vital step toward English fluency. In natural conversation and professional writing, words don’t exist in isolation; they live in specific “partnerships.” Using the correct adjective or verb with “explanation” reduces your mental translation time, boosts your credibility, and ensures your English sounds modern and natural rather than robotic or dated.
Essential Collocations using Explanation as a Noun
In English, “explanation” functions primarily as a noun. To use it correctly, we must look at the verbs that activate it and the adjectives that describe it. Using the wrong verb (like “do”) is a common marker of a learner; using the right verb (like “provide”) marks you as an advanced speaker.
Verbs that pair with “Explanation”
These are the action words that tell us what is happening with the explanation itself.
- Give/Provide an explanation: The most common way to offer a reason.
Example: “The manager provided a detailed explanation for the delay.” - Offer an explanation: Slightly more formal, often used when someone is trying to justify a mistake.
Example: “He offered no explanation for his absence.” - Demand an explanation: Used when you are unhappy and want to know why something happened.
Example: “The customers are demanding an explanation for the price hike.” - Owe someone an explanation: When it is your responsibility to explain something to someone.
Example: “After what happened yesterday, I feel I owe you an explanation.” - Accept an explanation: To believe or agree with the reason given.
Example: “The teacher accepted her explanation for the late homework.”
Adjectives used to describe “Explanation”
Adjectives help you provide nuance, showing whether a reason is believable, long, or confusing.
- Plausible explanation: A reason that sounds believable or likely to be true.
Example: “There is no plausible explanation for how the files disappeared.” - Comprehensive/Detailed explanation: An explanation that covers every single point.
Example: “The manual gives a comprehensive explanation of the software features.” - Brief/Succinct explanation: A short and clear reason.
Example: “Could you give us a brief explanation of the main goals?” - Flimsy/Lame explanation: An explanation that is weak and not convincing (very common in casual speech).
Example: “He gave some flimsy explanation about his alarm not going off.” - Clear/Lucid explanation: An explanation that is very easy to understand.
Example: “The professor’s lucid explanation made the complex theory simple.”
Common Prepositional Patterns
Prepositions are the “glue” that connect “explanation” to the rest of the sentence.
- Explanation for: Used to give a reason for an event or behavior.
Example: “What is the explanation for the sudden change in weather?” - Explanation of: Used when describing how a process or concept works.
Example: “This book provides an explanation of quantum mechanics.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Provide an explanation | Verb + Noun | To give a reason (Formal) |
| Plausible explanation | Adjective + Noun | A believable reason |
| Owe an explanation | Verb + Noun | To have the duty to explain |
| Detailed explanation | Adjective + Noun | A thorough, deep reason |
| Explanation for | Noun + Preposition | The reason why something happened |
| Accept an explanation | Verb + Noun | To believe the reason given |
| Flimsy explanation | Adjective + Noun | A weak, unconvincing reason |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make an explanation | Give / Provide an explanation |
| An explanation about why… | An explanation for why… |
| A thin explanation | A flimsy / weak explanation |
| I explain you the problem | I will give you an explanation of the problem |
“Subject: Project Delay Update. Dear Team, I would like to provide a detailed explanation for the recent shift in our timeline. While we initially offered a brief explanation regarding the server issues, we now realize the situation requires a more comprehensive explanation. We don’t want to give a flimsy explanation to our stakeholders, so we have prepared a full report. We owe you an explanation for the lack of communication last week and appreciate your patience.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Explanation Collocations
Is it “explanation for” or “explanation of”?
Use “explanation for” when you are talking about the reason why something happened (e.g., an explanation for the crime). Use “explanation of” when you are describing the mechanics or details of a thing or concept (e.g., an explanation of how the engine works).
Can I say “make an explanation”?
While people might understand you, “make an explanation” is generally considered unnatural. Native speakers almost always use the verbs “give,” “provide,” or “offer.”
What is a “satisfactory explanation”?
A “satisfactory explanation” is one that is good enough to answer all questions and stop people from worrying or complaining. If an explanation is “unsatisfactory,” it means it didn’t solve the problem or provide enough information.
How do I describe a reason that sounds like a lie?
You can use the collocations “flimsy explanation,” “lame explanation,” or “implausible explanation.” These all suggest that the person giving the explanation is not being entirely truthful or that the reason is very weak.
What does it mean to “demand an explanation”?
To “demand an explanation” means to insist—often firmly or angrily—that someone tells you the reason for their actions. It is much stronger than simply “asking” for one.
This article perfectly articulates why collocations are so vital for reaching true fluency. It's not just about knowing words, but knowing how they naturally fit together. A definite bookmark for me!
What about the other side? Can we 'receive an explanation' or 'get an explanation'? Are those also common collocations?
Absolutely, Isabella! 'Receive an explanation' and 'get an explanation' are both very common and correct collocations. 'Receive' is a bit more formal, often used in written contexts or more official communication (e.g., 'We received a full explanation for the system outage'). 'Get' is more casual and common in everyday spoken English (e.g., 'Did you get an explanation for why the meeting was cancelled?'). Both are perfectly valid ways to describe the act of being given an explanation. Excellent question to complete the picture!
This reminds me of other words like 'decision' where you 'make a decision' not 'do a decision.' Collocations are tricky but essential for sure!
Thank you for making this so easy to understand! My teacher always tells us to learn words in chunks, and this article perfectly explains why.
Are there any significant differences in these collocations between British English and American English? Sometimes certain phrases are more common in one region than the other.
That's a very perceptive question, Diego! While 'give an explanation' and 'provide an explanation' are universally understood and used across both British and American English, 'provide' might be slightly more prevalent in formal contexts in American English, and 'give' slightly more common in everyday British English, but the difference is minimal and often comes down to personal style or formality rather than regional rule. You can confidently use either in both regions, adapting to the level of formality. Great to see you thinking about regional variations!
This article is going straight into my resources for my advanced learners. The distinction between a 'learner' and an 'advanced speaker' based on verb choice is a perfect way to frame it for them. Thanks for the clear content!
Can you give another example sentence for 'provide an explanation' for a slightly different context, maybe not about a delay? I want to make sure I fully grasp it!
Certainly, Ben! Here's another example: 'The scientist was asked to provide a concise explanation of her research findings to the general public.' This shows how 'provide' is excellent for formal communication, especially when presenting information clearly. Keep practicing with different contexts!
The part about reducing mental translation time really resonated with me. When you're constantly translating word-for-word, it's exhausting and makes conversations so slow. Learning collocations feels like a shortcut to thinking directly in English.
I've noticed 'provide an explanation' often sounds more formal or professional than 'give an explanation.' Is that generally true, or am I overthinking the nuance? What's your take?
You're absolutely not overthinking it, Kenji! Your observation is spot on. 'Provide an explanation' does tend to be more formal and is very commonly used in professional, academic, or more official contexts. 'Give an explanation' is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings. Both are correct, but choosing 'provide' in a professional email, for example, would certainly boost your credibility and professionalism. Excellent linguistic awareness!
Is 'offer an explanation' also common? And does it have a slightly different meaning or usage than 'give an explanation' or 'provide an explanation'?
That's a fantastic question, Maria! Yes, 'offer an explanation' is indeed very common and perfectly natural. It's quite similar to 'give an explanation,' but 'offer' often carries a nuance of presenting something for consideration or acceptance, sometimes implying a willingness to provide it, or in situations where it might be expected or requested. For instance, 'He offered an explanation for his absence before anyone asked.' Great observation!