Clarificatory Linking (Namely, That Is to Say)

These phrases are connectors. They connect a general noun or idea to a specific list or definition. Imagine you are building a bridge. On one side, you have the "Big Idea." On the other side, you have the "Specific Fact." The words namely and that is to say are the bricks in the middle. Namely is used when you want to name the things you just mentioned. It is very direct. That is to say is used when you want to explain a word or a situation in a different way. It is like saying "In other words." Both phrases usually follow a comma. This comma gives your reader a tiny break to prepare for the details. It is like a grammar traffic light turning yellow before the green light of information.

1. 1Using these phrases is like following a recipe. Here are the steps:
2. 2Start with a complete thought or a general noun. Example: "I have two favorite colors."
3. 3Add a comma to create a small pause. Example: "I have two favorite colors,"
4. 4Choose your linker based on your goal. Use namely for names/lists. Use that is to say for explanations.
5. 5Add the specific details or the definition. Example: "I have two favorite colors, namely blue and green."
6. 6Finish your sentence with a period.
7. 7It is important to remember that namely usually introduces a complete list of what you just mentioned. If you only name one thing out of many, it feels a bit lonely and incorrect!

You should use these phrases when you want to be extra clear.

• Ordering Food: If you have an allergy, you might say, "I am allergic to nuts, namely peanuts and walnuts." This keeps you safe!
• Asking Directions: "I need to find the main buildings, that is to say, the library and the gym."
• Job Interviews: "I have three main skills, namely typing, coding, and speaking Spanish."
• School: When explaining a complex idea to a classmate. "The test is cumulative, that is to say, it covers everything we learned this year."

Using these words makes you sound organized. It shows you care about the person listening to you. It's like handing someone a pair of glasses so they can see your thoughts clearly.

Don't use these words for every single sentence. If you do, you will sound like a robot from an old movie!

• Avoid them in very casual texts to friends. "I want pizza, namely pepperoni" sounds a bit too formal for a Friday night.
• Do not use namely if you are only giving an example. If you say, "I like fruit, namely apples," it sounds like apples are the ONLY fruit you like in the whole world.
• Don't use them at the very start of a sentence. They need a "Big Idea" to come before them. They are followers, not leaders.
• If your sentence is already very simple, like "My name is Bob," you don't need a linker. Don't make things harder than they need to be!

Even the best of us trip over these words sometimes.

• The Missing Comma: Many people forget the comma before namely. Without the comma, the sentence runs together like melting ice cream.
• The "For Example" Confusion: People often use namely when they should use for example. Remember: namely is for the *whole* list. For example is just for one or two pieces.
• Over-explaining: Sometimes people use that is to say to explain something that is already obvious. "I am human, that is to say, I have skin and bones." We know that!
• Spelling: Namely is often misspelled as "namly." Don't forget that silent 'e' in the middle. It's there to keep the 'a' sounding long and proud.

How is namely different from such as?

• Such as is for examples. If I say "I like sports such as tennis," I might also like golf and soccer.
• Namely is for the specific group. If I say "I play two sports, namely tennis and golf," those are the only two.

How is that is to say different from I mean?

• I mean is very casual. You use it when you make a mistake and want to fix it.
• That is to say is more formal. You use it when you planned to explain something more deeply.

Think of namely as a focused laser and such as as a wide flashlight. One is narrow and exact; the other is broad and general.