shed light on — clarify
collocationC1IELTS 7+formaloccasional
to make something easier to understand by providing new information
Say it like a native
Textbook The report elucidates the underlying causes.
Native The report sheds light on the real causes.
'Shed light on' is the natural (slightly formal) phrase for clarifying; 'elucidates' is bookish.
Pattern: shed light on something
In use
- The study sheds light on why teenagers sleep so little.society
- Documentaries can shed light on issues that the daily news rarely has time to explain properly.IELTS Part 3
Common mistake
✗ The study shed light to the problem.
✓ The study shed light on the problem.
'Shed light ON' something, not 'to'.
Common collocations
shed light on— on the issue, on what happened, some light, new light
Don't confuse it
Figurative explaining, not literally lighting something up.