Difference Between Describe and Explanation Essay Example

The semantics of the words describe and explanation are similar, and often used interchangeably in everyday language and conversation. As a result, the distinction between the two terms is commonly blurred. On a technical level, however, the words have different dictionary definitions. The Oxford dictionary defines the verb describe as “(to) give a detailed account in words of”, while the verb explain has a primary and secondary meaning. The primary meaning is “(to) make (an idea or situation) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts”, and the secondary meaning is “(to) give a reason so as to justify or excuse (an action or event).” Explaining something differs from describing as it could either provide additional relevant details, or justification to the matter. While it is important to not indulge in the confusing semantics of the words, some implications cannot go unacknowledged. To describe something suggests the provision of an objective, unbiased point of view, with answers to observational questions such as who, what, where, and when. To explain something indicates further detail which evokes the question, “why was the additional detail given?” and delves into the mechanism of “how has offering additional detail served a purpose?”. It also suggests that the explanation could act as a justification, thus implying that the statement could be influenced by bias or personal opinions that cannot be verified as facts, which reduces the reliability of explanations in comparison to descriptions. Subsequently, the contextual use, or rather, the purpose of descriptions and explanations may vary to an extent. As previously mentioned, due to the justifying and subjective nature of explanations, they can be used as a persuasive tool. As for the type of knowledge provided by descriptions and explanations, they both impart shared knowledge, but explanations allow us to make deductions by questioning the sincerity of the explanation. This indicates that personal knowledge can be projected onto explanations. Personally, I believe that the same cannot be said for descriptions, as their factual nature does not usually prompt one to question their reliability. However, due to the ease of manipulation of truth and the existence of perceived truths that vary from person to person, it is not something that can be confirmed.

Now, addressing the extent to which I agree with the claim that is the topic of this paper, I believe the degree of differentiability of the two words is entirely contextual. In specific areas of study, the distinction between the two terms is notable and significant. An example that comes to mind is the usage of these two terms as command words in the International GCSE examinations. Answers to a question that require students to describe the need to “be developed, as they are often linked but do not need to include a reason”. Answers to “Explain…” questions require a justification/exemplification of a point and must contain some element of reasoning (Bradfield and Potter). Let us explore this with an example. 

When asked to describe the short-term effects of exercise on the heart, the observation, ie, an increase in heart rate, is stated as the answer. When asked to explain the short-term effects of exercise on the heart, the accepted answer would be “heart rate increases due to more oxygen being needed at the working muscle, so the heart beats faster to deliver more oxygenated blood to the working muscle” (M.). This demonstrates that, when viewed through the lens of biology, there is a fairly clear distinction between a description and an explanation, as the descriptions and explanations both used different language and covered different aspects of the effect. 

This applies to other human sciences as well, such as Chemistry and Physics. This also proves that explanations can create new knowledge, as it explains the mechanism or rather, the reason for the detected effect.

A limitation of the arguments proposed earlier is that descriptions can be subjective, especially in creative writing and literature, largely pertaining to poetry and prose. This is called Subjective Impressionistic Description. It is opinionated, and the writer chooses the information they wish to include. The focus of the description in these cases is the writer’s attitude / his feelings and personal observations on the subject matter (Matsonclass). Despite the subjectivity, impressionistic descriptions do not answer the question “why” or provide depth and insight into the “because…” aspect of the description, which sets it apart from an explanation. The sentence “this shoe fits perfectly” is a good case in point, as it is merely an observation, but is subjective as each individual’s opinion of “a perfect fit” could vary.

Finally, it is my notion that not everything we experience can be explained.” While it is possible to describe the experience or phenomena itself using language and linguistic devices such as metaphors, the reasoning for it cannot be explained. The most suitable example for this is the Theory of Everything, a hypothetical framework that explains the existence and workings of all physical phenomena in the universe. So far, such an overarching theory has eluded scientists, and critics are of the belief that the ultimate goal is unrealistic (Mann). But we cannot deny that the possibility remains.

To conclude, my neutral stance remains. While there is a clear distinction between “to describe” and “to explain”, the line that creates the distinction can be obscured depending on the context, and the importance of the distinction in the situation.

Citations:

Bradfield, Phil, and Potter, Steve. Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Biology. Pearson Education, 2017. 

M., Poppy. “What Is the Difference between an Explain and Describe Question?” MyTutor, https://www.mytutor.co.uk/answers/18100/GCSE/Physical-Education/What-is-the-difference-between-an-explain-and-describe-question/. 

Mann, Adam. “What Is the Theory of Everything?” Space.com, Space, 29 Aug. 2019, https://www.space.com/theory-of-everything-definition.html. 

“Writing 2203 Descriptive Writing Objective vs. Subjective.” Matsonclass, http://www.matsonclass.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/8/9/38896565/shoe_description_activity.pdf