An argument offers reasons for a claim. Explanations look almost the same, and both often use "because". The difference is in their job.
Key idea
An argument tries to show that a claim is true. An explanation tells why or how something we already accept is true.
Why it works
Ask whether the main claim is in doubt. "The game was cancelled because the field flooded" is said after everyone knows the game was cancelled; the speaker is giving its cause. "The game will probably be cancelled, because the field is flooding" tries to convince you of something you do not know yet.
| Argument | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| The main claim is… | in doubt | already accepted |
| The "because" part gives… | evidence | a cause or reason why |
| Its job is to… | convince | help you understand |
Worked example: Which job?
"The ice on the pond melted because the weather turned warm this week."
- Is anyone in doubt that the ice melted? No: it is plain to see.
- The "because" part gives the cause: warm weather.
- So the passage explains why the ice melted.
Answer: An explanation.
Worked example: Same word, other job
"The cat is probably sick, because it hasn't eaten in two days and it is hiding."
- Is it known that the cat is sick? No: that is the question.
- The "because" part gives evidence: not eating and hiding.
- So the passage is trying to show the cat is sick.
Answer: An argument.
Common mistake
Treating every "because" as an argument. The word appears in both. Check by asking: would the listener have doubted the main claim before hearing the reason? If not, it is an explanation.