Grammar fix
shed light on
clarify
to make something easier to understand by providing new information
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Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The study sheds light on why teenagers sleep so little.
Documentaries can shed light on issues that the daily news rarely has time to explain properly.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The study shed light to the problem.
Say: The study shed light on the problem.
'Shed light ON' something, not 'to'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Shed light on' is the natural (slightly formal) phrase for clarifying; 'elucidates' is bookish.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
shed light on
- on the issue
- on what happened
- some light
- new light