Basic Details
Word: Explanatory
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Written or said in order to explain something, such as an explanatory note at the bottom of a page.
Synonyms: descriptive, illustrative, informative
How to Spell Explanatory
Syllables: ex - plan - a - to - ry
Tricky part: Like explanation, it drops the i of explain: explanatory, not explainatory. The ending is tory, as in history.
Watch out for: explainatory, explanitory, explenatory
Memory tip: Spell explanation first, then swap tion for tory. The first part, explana, stays exactly the same in both words.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The museum has an explanatory card beside every painting.
Example 2: Read the explanatory notes at the end of the chapter before you start.
Example 3: The instructions were self-explanatory, so nobody needed help.
Fun Fact
Something so clear that it needs no extra words is called self-explanatory, such as a road sign that simply shows a picture of falling rocks.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The new science textbook has a short explainatory note under every diagram, so students can follow the steps of each experiment even without a teacher.
a) explainatory
b) diagram
c) experiment
d) textbook
Show answer
a) explainatory. Explain loses its i in explanatory, just as it does in explanation.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. explanatory 2. laboratery 3. preperatory 4. contradictary
a) saying the opposite of something
b) a room where scientists do experiments
c) done to get ready for something
d) giving the reasons for or details of something
Show answer
d) giving the reasons for or details of something. Explanatory is spelt correctly; laboratory and contradictory both need an o before the ry, and preparatory has an a after prep.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The minister released an ryotaxenlap note on the new rules for street vendors.
a) explanatory
b) inflammatory
c) expository
d) exploratory
Show answer
a) explanatory. The jumble has two a's and an n; exploratory has only one a, expository none, and inflammatory has no x.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An explanatory diagram is drawn to ____.
a) test students
b) fill empty space
c) decorate a page
d) show how something works
Show answer
d) show how something works
2. Which word means 'needing no explanation'?
a) unexplained
b) explaining
c) explainer
d) self-explanatory
Show answer
d) self-explanatory
