{"id":161871,"date":"2021-01-24T09:40:35","date_gmt":"2021-01-24T06:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/"},"modified":"2021-01-24T09:40:35","modified_gmt":"2021-01-24T06:40:35","slug":"what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Does \u201cELI5\u201d Mean, and How Do You Use It?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e92e79f8ee\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e92e79f8ee\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#%E2%80%9CExplain_Like_Im_5%E2%80%9D\" >\u201cExplain Like I\u2019m 5\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#The_History_of_ELI5\" >The History of ELI5<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#The_ELI5_Subreddit\" >The ELI5 Subreddit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#ELI5_Outside_Reddit\" >ELI5 Outside Reddit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#How_to_Use_ELI5\" >How to Use ELI5<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#What Does \u201cELI5\u201d Mean, and How Do You Use It?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_707547\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-707547 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ELI5-Acronym.jpg\" alt=\"Explain Like I'm Five\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-credittext=\"Vann Vicente\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Vann Vicente<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Is there a topic you don\u2019t understand and would like explained in the simplest way? You might want to use the acronym ELI5. Here\u2019s what it means, and how to use it to get a helpful explanation.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CExplain_Like_Im_5%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>\u201cExplain Like I\u2019m 5\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>ELI5 stands for \u201cexplain like I\u2019m 5.\u201d When people use it online, they\u2019re asking others to explain a complex or obscure topic in the simplest of terms. So, if taken literally, they would explain something in a way that a 5-year-old would understand.<\/p>\n<p>However, this acronym is rarely used literally. ELI5 means breaking down a topic into reader-friendly layman\u2019s terms.<\/p>\n<p>Some popular ELI5 topics might include <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>, law, and economics. Questions about astrophysics or global affairs might not have any easy answers readily available online. So, an answer in response to \u201cELI5\u201d might be the best way for the average person to grasp a concept.<\/p>\n<p>The standard format is to just type the acronym followed by the question you want to ask: \u201cELI5: Why does a day last longer on other planets?\u201d Then, scientists or enthusiasts can respond in the comments.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_History_of_ELI5\"><\/span>The History of ELI5<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unlike many internet acronyms, the origin of ELI5 is much more recent. It was first used online on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> in the early 2010s. However, it\u2019s possible it was in use before that.<\/p>\n<p>In 2011, the subreddit <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/explainlikeimfive\/\">r\/ExplainLikeImFive<\/a> was created, and ELI5 became one of the most common acronyms used in educational circles on the internet. Since then, the subreddit has grown substantially, and ELI5 is now widely used all over the web.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_ELI5_Subreddit\"><\/span>The ELI5 Subreddit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As we mentioned above, the main platform on which you can ask questions formatted this way is the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/explainlikeimfive\/\">ELI5 subreddit<\/a>. With nearly 20 million subscribers, it\u2019s one of the most popular communities on the entire platform.<\/p>\n<p>The subreddit asks people to add a flair to posts based on their category, such as biology, physics, or economics. All the posts on the subreddit follow the ELI5 format, and thousands of people come to the community daily to answer questions. It\u2019s become one of the largest repositories of simplified information on complex topics on the internet.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the most popular questions ever posted include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cIf there is no cellphone signal, how does the \u2018emergency calls only\u2019\u00a0mode work?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cHow does your body burn 2,000 calories a day, but you have to run a mile to burn 100 extra?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reddit has acknowledged ELI5 as one of the most important communities on its website. In 2013, the company even named its <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL8akVAD_Ef4fZKTcUHl-eW5AJ0DfRU53T\">first original video series<\/a> after the subreddit. The videos take a comedic <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach to the subreddits\u2019 premise and explain things like the Syrian crisis and philosophy to actual 5-year-olds.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you\u2019re really trying to understand an obscure, objective topic, there are better places on the web to get info than the ELI5 community.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ELI5_Outside_Reddit\"><\/span>ELI5 Outside Reddit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_707814\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-707814 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/eli5.jpg\" alt=\"A teacher teaching a young student in front of a laptop.\" width=\"650\" height=\"431\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/teacher-girl-laptop-horizontal-570197581\" data-credittext=\"Asia Images Group\/Shutterstock\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/teacher-girl-laptop-horizontal-570197581\">Asia Images Group\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>ELI5 is alive and well on other platforms besides Reddit. You\u2019ll often see it on other social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter. It\u2019s fairly common for someone to use ELI5 when asking their followers or friends to explain something. As platforms like Twitter also have a character limit, these explanations have to be abbreviated even further than they are on Reddit.<\/p>\n<p>Many podcasts and YouTube channels have also adopted the ELI5 format and feature experts who break down complex topics for the audience. Some have based their entire show on the format, while others use it in one-off episodes.<\/p>\n<p>A very popular show that adopts a similar format is <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/video\/series\/5-levels\">WIRED\u2019s 5 Levels<\/a>, which features experts explaining topics at five levels of difficulty.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Use_ELI5\"><\/span>How to Use ELI5<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you use ELI5, it also implies that you might be too scared to ask the same question in a typical setting.<\/p>\n<p>For example, one of the most upvoted posts on the subreddit is \u201cWhy does \u2018Hoo\u2019 produce cold air but \u2018Haa\u2019 produces hot air?\u201d While this might seem like an unusual question to ask, it\u2019s something many people have likely wondered about.<\/p>\n<p>Using ELI5 is easy. Just type the acronym followed by your question or the topic you want more info on, like the examples below:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cELI5:\u00a0Why are the polar ice caps melting?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cELI5: Government budget deficits.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cELI5: Why do bones make a sound when you crack them?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cELI5: Fast charging.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After you get your answers, you can post what you learned using another internet acronym:\u00a0TIL.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Does &#8220;TIL&#8221; Mean, and How Do You Use It?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/694298\/what-does-eli5-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#What Does \u201cELI5\u201d Mean, and How Do You Use It?&#8221; Vann Vicente Is there a topic you don\u2019t understand and would like explained in the simplest way? You might want to use the acronym ELI5. Here\u2019s what it means, and how to use it to get a helpful explanation. \u201cExplain Like I\u2019m 5\u201d ELI5 stands&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":161872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ELI5-Acronym.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}