If you need someone to explain something, “Could you clarify that, please?”, “Could you elaborate on that?”, and “Can you help me understand that?” are all natural alternatives. Some ask for more detail, while others ask for simpler wording, context, or an example.
Match the Question to What You Need
- Could you clarify that, please?
- Could you explain that in more detail?
- Would you mind explaining what you mean?
- Could you walk me through that?
- Can you help me understand that?
- Could you elaborate on that?
- Could you give me a little more context?
- Could you break that down for me?
- Would you explain that a bit further?
- Could you say more about that?
- Can you clarify what you mean by that?
- Could you provide an example?
How Each Request Changes the Answer You Get
Could you clarify that, please?
Best when something is ambiguous, unclear, or open to more than one interpretation. Example: Could you clarify that, please? I’m not sure which deadline you mean.
Could you explain that in more detail?
Use this when the basic point is clear but you need additional information. Example: Could you explain that in more detail, particularly the final step?
Would you mind explaining what you mean?
Polite and useful when you are unsure how to interpret someone’s wording. Example: Would you mind explaining what you mean by “provisional approval”?
Could you walk me through that?
Natural when you need a process, sequence, calculation, or procedure explained step by step. Example: Could you walk me through how the approval process works?
Can you help me understand that?
Friendly and collaborative, especially when you want to avoid sounding confrontational. Example: Can you help me understand why the date has changed?
Could you elaborate on that?
A concise professional request for the speaker to expand on a point. Example: Could you elaborate on the risks you mentioned?
Could you give me a little more context?
Best when the missing information is background rather than a definition. Example: Could you give me a little more context about how this decision was made?
Could you break that down for me?
Conversational wording for asking for a simpler, more manageable explanation. Example: Could you break that down for me in plain English?
Would you explain that a bit further?
Polite and moderately formal, useful when you need further detail. Example: Would you explain that a bit further before we move on?
Could you say more about that?
Open-ended and natural in meetings, interviews, and discussions. Example: Could you say more about what happened after the pilot?
Can you clarify what you mean by that?
Directly targets one phrase or statement that is unclear. Example: Can you clarify what you mean by “significant change”?
Could you provide an example?
Best when an example would make an abstract point easier to understand. Example: Could you provide an example of what would count as an exception?
Clarify, Elaborate, or Simplify?
“Clarify” asks someone to make a point clearer. “Elaborate” asks them to add detail. “Break that down” asks for a simpler explanation, while “give me more context” asks for background.
Choosing the precise request can save time because it tells the other person what is missing rather than simply asking them to repeat the explanation.