explicationsvsexplorationsWhich spelling fits?

Which to use

“explications” and “explorations” are a confusable French pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#4,329
“explications” frequency rank
#27,058
“explorations” frequency rank
31387
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature explications explorations
Definition Pluriel de explication. Pluriel de exploration.

Where the eye mixes explications and explorations

Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 10 letters in sequence.

12 ch
explications
12 ch
explorations

Visual trap between explications and explorations

A purely visual mix-up. explications (\ɛks.pli.ka.sjɔ̃\) and explorations (\ɛk.splɔ.ʁa.sjɔ̃\) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 31387, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

explications is recorded at frequency rank #4,329, classified as anoun, pronounced \ɛks.pli.ka.sjɔ̃\. explorations is at rank #27,058, tagged as anoun, pronounced \ɛk.splɔ.ʁa.sjɔ̃\.

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 31387, this pair ranks #304,123 of 440,172 scored French confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of explications vs explorations

Shared letters: aeilnopstx. Private to "explications": c. Private to "explorations": r.

"explications" · 12 letters · shape VCCCVCVCVVCC  ·  "explorations" · 12 letters · shape VCCCVCVCVVCC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • explicationsepxlications · exlpications · expilcations · explciations · expliactions · explicaitons · explicatinos · explicationns
  • explorationsepxlorations · exlporations · expllorations · exploartions · exploraitons · exploratinos · explorationns · explorationss

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "explications" and "explorations" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently (\ɛks.pli.ka.sjɔ̃\ versus \ɛk.splɔ.ʁa.sjɔ̃\) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Frequency check: "explications" vs "explorations" - which ranks higher?
"explications" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #4,329 in our French list, against #27,058 for "explorations". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

After this comparison

Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.

  • Full dictionary entry for "explications" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
  • Full dictionary entry for "explorations" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
  • This pair ranks #304,123 of 440,172 scored French confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
  • "explications" and "explorations" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "explications vs explicatives". Nearby pair
  • Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes

Confusion rank #304,123 of 440,172 scored French pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list