Grammar fix
spell out
explain something very clearly and in detail
to explain something in a very clear and detailed way, often because it is complicated or because someone has not understood it yet.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Could you spell out exactly what you expect from us in this project?communication
- If the rules are not spelled out clearly, students may become confused about what is expected of them.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: spell out something | spell something out (to someone)
WrongDo I have to spell out it?
RightDo I have to spell it out?
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'spell it out'.
Patternspell out something | spell something out (to someone)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Spell out' is the everyday verb for explaining something very plainly, step by step.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
spell out + thingthe detailsthe rulesexactly whatstep by step
Don't confuse it
At B1/B2, 'spell out' may be known only in the literal sense of saying each letter of a word. This sense is figurative: it means to explain something thoroughly, not to say letters.