[Grammar] Thank you for clearing that up. vs Thank you for your clarification.

[Volodymyr]

What is the difference between the following sentences?

Thank you for clearing that up. / Thank you for your clarification.

Which one is more formal?

 

[teechar]

What is the difference between the following sentences?

The first suggests that the clarification was effective. The second is a polite acknowledgment that the clarification was received; it may or may not be saying that it (the clarification) worked.

Which one is more formal?

They are both formal, although some may shun the use of phrasal verbs in formal text/correspondence and hence prefer "Thank you for clarifying that" instead.

 

[GoesStation]

… ome may shun the use of phrasal verbs in formal text/correspondence ….

I don't put up with that kind of pedantry.

 

[Yankee]

What is the difference between the following sentences?

Thank you for clearing that up. / Thank you for your clarification.

Which one is more formal?

Absent any context, no difference. The second would be more formal.

 

[emsr2d2]

The sentence with "clarification" is more formal purely because the verb "clarify" is generally seen as more formal than "clear up". It has nothing to do with the latter being a phrasal verb.

 

[teechar]

Then what does it have to do with?

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't have an answer for that, any more than I can tell you why "inform" is a bit more formal than "tell".

 

[teechar]

"inform" is a bit more formal than "tell".

That's different. There are various aspects that contribute to formality.

Many advise against the liberal use of phrasal verbs in formal texts if Latinate equivalents are available. I do not necessarily subscribe to this view, but I think in some highly formal contexts, it may have some merit.

https://vocapp.com/phrasal-verbs-a-d-english-vocabulary-flashcards-1025

 

[jutfrank]

The sentence with "clarification" is more formal purely because the verb "clarify" is generally seen as more formal than "clear up". It has nothing to do with the latter being a phrasal verb.

teechar is quite right. That clear up is less formal is very much to do with that it's a phrasal verb.