How Do You Spell EXPLAINING AWAY?

Pronunciation: [ɛksplˈe͡ɪnɪŋ ɐwˈe͡ɪ] (IPA)

Explaining away is spelled as /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ əˈweɪ/. The first syllable 'explaining' is spelled with a 'e' followed by an 'x' and a 'p'. The second part, 'away' is spelled with 'a', 'w' and 'ay'. The word 'explaining' is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, while 'away' is stressed on the first syllable. This phrase means providing an explanation for something that may be seen as negative or undesirable to justify it, and it is important to spell it correctly to avoid any confusion.

EXPLAINING AWAY Meaning and Definition

1. Explaining away refers to a psychological phenomenon wherein individuals attempt to diminish the significance or validity of a certain event, experience, or piece of information by providing alternative explanations or justifications that downplay its importance or impact. It essentially involves the act of rationalizing or dismissing something that challenges one's existing beliefs, attitudes, or notions.

   By explaining away, individuals try to reconcile conflicting or contradictory information by attributing it to unrelated factors, coincidences, or even plausible but exaggerated possibilities. This cognitive mechanism serves as a defense strategy to protect one's preconceived notions, ideas, or biases from being challenged or disproven, enabling them to maintain a consistent view of the world.

   Explaining away can occur consciously or subconsciously, depending on the awareness and intention of the individual engaging in this process. It often arises when faced with dissonant information that threatens one's self-image, beliefs, or understanding of a particular situation. By downplaying or discounting the significance of such information, individuals can maintain a sense of cognitive coherence and avoid cognitive dissonance.

   Explaining away can manifest in various contexts, including personal relationships, scientific research, and social or political debates. It can hinder the development of accurate assessments, hinder personal growth, and discourage critical thinking. Recognizing this tendency and actively challenging it can promote a more open-minded and well-rounded understanding of the world and avoid the potential consequences of biased thinking.

Common Misspellings for EXPLAINING AWAY

• wxplaining away
• sxplaining away
• dxplaining away
• rxplaining away
• 4xplaining away
• 3xplaining away
• ezplaining away
• ecplaining away
• edplaining away
• esplaining away
• exolaining away
• exllaining away
• ex-laining away
• ex0laining away
• expkaining away
• exppaining away
• expoaining away
• explzining away
• explsining away
• explwining away

Etymology of EXPLAINING AWAY

The phrase "explaining away" is not derived from a specific etymology but rather a combination of the words "explaining" and "away". Each word has its own origin:

1. Explaining: The word "explain" comes from the Latin word "explānāre", which means "to make clear" or "to make plain". This Latin word is a combination of "ex", meaning "out", and "plānus", meaning "flat" or "clear". Over time, "explānāre" evolved into "explain" in English.

2. Away: The word "away" can be traced back to Old English. It is derived from the words "on weg" or "onweg", which mean "on" (movement) and "way" (road or path).