Grammar fix
to put it simply
simplifying
Used to introduce a basic or easy-to-understand explanation of something that could be more complicated.
expressionC1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
To put it simply, if you don't save money, you might struggle in an emergency.
Well, to put it simply, I think technology has made our lives easier, but it can also make us more distracted if we're not careful.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: To put it simple, we lost money.
Say: To put it simply, we lost money.
It's the adverb 'simply', not 'simple'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'To put it simply' is the natural signpost for a plain explanation; the formal paraphrase is clumsy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
to put it simply,
- it means
- we
- just
- basically