Explaining

Explaining is the act of making something understandable by presenting information that clarifies its meaning, causes, relationships, or mechanisms. An explanation seeks to answer questions such as why something is the case, how it works, or what its consequences are. Explanations differ from simple descriptions in that they connect observations to underlying principles and inferences, and they often require justification or evidence.

Effective explanations typically include a central idea or mechanism, supporting reasons or evidence, and examples or analogies that link new ideas to prior knowledge. Good explanations consider the audience's prior beliefs and knowledge, use precise terms, avoid unnecessary jargon, and make implicit assumptions explicit. They may be structured logically: defining the phenomenon, outlining its components, describing causal relationships, and addressing potential counterexamples or uncertainties. In science and education, explanations are often tested against observations and revised to improve accuracy.

Common modes of explanation include causal explanations (why something happens), functional explanations (what role a component serves), and theoretical explanations (how a concept fits into a broader framework). Explanations can be conveyed orally, in writing, or through demonstrations, visuals, or simulations. The quality of an explanation depends on clarity, coherence, completeness, and transparency about limits or uncertainties.