Difference Between Describe and Explain

The main difference between the terms describe and explain is that describing means telling what happened and explaining refers to analyzing why or how it happened.

describe vs. Explain

Describing means giving as many details and painting a verbal picture of any situation or idea. Explain means to make a situation clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts. To describe is to give an account of something and any details about that thing. To explain is to give an account and give details of something to make it easier to understand. The verb describes answers questions like what, when, where, and who. The verb explains answers to questions like how and why. The description lists the properties or characteristics of a thing, process or event, etc. An explanation relates the event or thing to a larger context that makes it clearer and more understandable. The description helps to recognize or identify the thing. The explanation further expands its details and says more about that thing. It is a specific type of description of something that is done with a certain goal in mind. Describing includes describing sounds, smell, sight, taste, etc. Explaining includes providing reasons and evidence. Describing needs the skills of observation. Explaining requires analytical and observation skills. To describe something is to give a list of qualities or properties or a thing, process or event, etc. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps ground its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. Describing needs the skills of observation. Explaining requires analytical and observation skills. To describe something is to give a list of qualities or properties or a thing, process or event, etc. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps to support its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. Describing needs the skills of observation. Explaining requires observation and analytical skills. To describe something is to give a list of qualities or properties or a thing, process or event, etc. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps to support its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. Describing needs the skills of observation. Explaining requires observation and analytical skills. To describe something is to give a list of qualities or properties or a thing, process or event, etc. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps to support its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. Describing needs the skills of observation. Explaining requires observation and analytical skills. To describe something is to give a list of qualities or properties or a thing, process or event, etc. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps to support its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps to support its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete. with some purpose and sense of relevance in mind. To explain something is to refer to a larger context that helps to support its meaning. It also relates two or more things together in a way that makes them more complete.

Comparison chart

What is Describe?

Describe is most often used when someone is trying to visualize something. It is used to ask for statements about the sensory experience of the respondent. Describing something includes telling the details about that thing or incident that you are supposed to describe. For example, you can talk about the place, the people, their behavior, books, background, etc. when describing an image. When describing something, you can count the sensations you feel through all five senses: hearing, smell, sight, touch, and taste. For example, you can talk about the sound of vehicles, the smell of smoke, the mass of vehicles and people, etc. when describing a busy street. Describing means giving as many details and painting a verbal picture of any situation, event, incident, or idea. To describe is to give an account of something and any details about that thing. What’s more, the term describe requires a response that tells what something is like, how it works, etc. The word describe suggests the detailed explanation of the salient points or features of an event, episode, and the like. The noun form of the verb “to describe” is “description.” For example, a description of Abraham Lincoln will not normally mention that he had a nose and two feet, or that he was human. Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: The word describe suggests the detailed explanation of the salient points or features of an event, episode, and the like. The noun form of the verb “to describe” is “description.” For example, a description of Abraham Lincoln will not normally mention that he had a nose and two feet, or that he was human. Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: The word describe suggests the detailed explanation of the salient points or features of an event, episode, and the like. The noun form of the verb “to describe” is “description.” For example, a description of Abraham Lincoln will not normally mention that he had a nose and two feet, or that he was human. Some properties are more important than others, what is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: Some properties are more important than others, which is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: what is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are: what is determined by the context. Describing a thing does not need to analyze it or explain the causes behind it. You only need the answers to four questions in the description of an event or incident. These are:

• What happened?
• Where did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• Who was involved?

examples

• I described my experience in London in a newspaper article.
• His accent was described as American.

What is Explain?

Explain relates to the analysis of mechanisms, justifications, motives, or relationships, many of which are not available to the senses. Explaining clarifies the cause of some events. Find the reasons. Explaining something requires deep thinking. The verb explains a response that offers an exact and detailed explanation of a principle, idea or set of reasons for a situation or attitude. It is worth mentioning that the verb ‘explain’ is not used with two objects. It is wrong to say ‘she explains something to you’. The correct usage is to say “she explains something to him”. Therefore, explain is a kind of verb that cannot be used with two objects. It is also a verb that is often followed by the preposition ‘to’ right after an object. In the use of this word explain, this is an important observation. The word explain is about getting into details, even the smallest ones. The nominal form of the verb to explain is the explanation. This term is used when you look beyond superficial descriptions and details that may answer the question of why something happened. When the term “explain” appears in the essay question, you must provide reasons and evidence to support a claim.

examples

• Explain how an internal combustion engine works.
• Explain how the challenges in your life affected you.

Key differences

1. To describe is to give an account of something and any details about it, while to explain is to give an account and give details of something to make it easier to understand.
2. The verb describe answers questions like what, when, where and who, conversely, the verb explain answers questions like how and why.
3. The description lists the properties or characteristics of a thing on the other side; an explanation relates the thing to a larger context.
4. The description helps to recognize or identify the thing, while the explanation expands further on its details and tells more about that thing.
5. Describing includes describing sounds, smell, sight, taste, etc. on the other hand, explaining includes providing reasons and evidence.
6. Describing the need for observation and explanation skills requires both analytical and observational skills.