I wish to describe an explanation, which is broadly correct, but which glosses over some potentially important details.
The nearest term I can think of is “hand-waving explanation”. Is there something more formal I could use instead?
Answer
Though not familiar with your “hand-waving explanation,” I think I know where you’re going with this. There are any number of possibilities:
-
On the face of it . . .. (In other words, the explanation sounds good initially, but given a closer look, maybe “not so much!”)
-
A prima facie explanation (Again, an explanation which upon closer inspection may have some flaws. It satisfies certain conditions but not necessarily all.)
-
An ill-considered explanation
-
A rush to judgment (This is an explanation for, say, the guilt of someone, before all the facts have been gathered, inspected, and verified.)
-
An interim explanation
-
An unsubstantiated explanation
-
An incomplete, inadequate, superficial, surface, incomplete, or partial explanation
-
An ostensible explanation, but upon closer examination . . ..
-
A cursory explanation
-
An explanation which at first blush seems adequate, but upon closer examination . . ..
-
An unthought out explanation
-
An ad hoc explanation
These should at least get you started, I hope!
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : DaveP , Answer Author : rhetorician
