Which is the right usage of the word "Clarification"?

Question

Is it right to say "Let me know if you have any clarifications" or "Let me know if you need any clarifications"?

Will somebody need clarifications or have clarifications?

Answer 1

If you NEED a clarification.

Answer 2

In general and most commonly, clarification is used in the singular form. Example: The customer has many questions and requests clarification.



However, on rare occasions, it is necessary to add an "s" to the end. These instances are when a quantifiable amount is stated or implied in the sentence. For example: There are a number of clarifications requested by the customer.



"Many" is an undefined amount and therefore clarification is NOT plural but "a number of" implies a finite amount that can be quantified (3 questions, 10 questions, 57 questions) so there would be 1 clarification for each question -- therefore requiring the word to be plural.

Answer 3

Clarify (verb) means to make clear. For example, when you restate the instructions for someone, you are clarifying.



Clarification is what you call the interpretation or explanation that makes things clear. There is no "s" on the end of the word.



Therefore, you would correctly say, "Let me know if you need any clarification."

Answer 4

Clarification means to clarify, or make something clear.

You don't have clarification, (unless you are filtering jelly or wine) you need clarification.

So the correct usage is:



Let me know if anything needs clarification.



To say "If you need any clarification" means that you have to be clarified, when in fact, it is something else that needs to be clarified so you can understand it.

Does this help?