How to Explain Anything (Almost!): Mastering Analogies for Science Communication
By Dr. Lynora Saxinger
An analogy isn't just a comparison, it’s a bridge. It takes a new, complex idea (the unknown) and links it to something familiar and concrete (the known).
Why are they so effective?
Our brains are wired for pattern recognition and association. When you connect a new piece of information to an existing mental framework, it becomes easier to grasp, remember, and even explain to others. It’s not about oversimplifying, but about creating an accessible entry point.
Here is the toolkit, so you can move from being a dispenser of data to an information interpreter:
1. Isolate the Core Mechanic
What is the single most important abstract idea your audience needs right now? Is it how the virus gets into the cell? How the vaccine prepares the defense? How the monoclonal antibodies cuts off the inflammatory cascade? Start with one clear target.
2. Brainstorm the "Everyday" Parallel
Think broadly. Look at the world around you—plumbing, electrical wiring, construction, home security, communities with helpful citizens and bad actors living together. Where do you see a similar process?
Some common analogy starting points:
- Immune System: A highly trained army, a city's defense system.
- Blood Vessels: Highways, plumbing pipes.
- Viruses/Bacteria: Burglars, tiny invaders.
- DNA: An instruction manual, a blueprint.
- Nerve Impulses: Electrical signals, a telephone wire.
3. Explain the imperfections
No analogy is a perfect one-to-one match, and that’s okay. In fact, acknowledging where the comparison breaks down actually builds trust.
It’s a bit like a plumbing pipe, but unlike a metal pipe, these are living tissues that can signal for help when they’re under pressure.
By identifying the limitations, you prevent misunderstandings before they happen.
4. Test for clarity
If your analogy is so niche or technical that it requires its own 10-minute explanation, you’ve defeated the purpose. Test it on a non-health-care friend or family member first. If it doesn't land in 10 seconds, it’s not the right tool for the job.
5. More than one analogy is Ok (maybe)
For truly complex systems, one analogy might not carry the whole load. You can use different comparisons for different "chapters" of the story. Just be careful not to create a "metaphor soup" that leaves the audience more confused than when you started.
The Bottom Line
Finding analogies that work best for things that you explain often lets you move from being a person who "knows things", to a person who "makes things known." In a world drowning in misinformation, being a clear explainer isn't just a soft skill—it helps you do your job, and it helps people increase their understanding of science more broadly.
Analogies in Action
1. Antibodies: The Molecular "Wanted" Posters
The Concept: Proteins that recognize and bind to specific pathogens.
The Analogy: Think of antibodies as highly specific "Wanted" posters or GPS trackers. They don't always kill the "bad guy" themselves, but they slap a neon sticker on the virus so the rest of the immune system’s "police force" knows exactly who to arrest. They aren't just generic guards; they’re specialists with a very specific mugshot in hand.
2. Autoimmunity: Friendly Fire (or The Glitchy Security System)
The Concept: The immune system attacking the body’s own healthy cells.
The Analogy: Imagine a home security system that is so high-tech and sensitive it starts seeing the homeowner as a burglar. Instead of catching the intruder, the alarm goes off every time you walk into your own kitchen. It’s not that the "guards" are lazy; it’s that their facial recognition software has a glitch, and they’ve started treating the furniture like a threat.
3. Antibiotics: The Specialized Wrench
The Concept: Drugs that disrupt specific bacterial functions without harming human cells.
The Analogy: Bacteria are like complex little biological machines. Antibiotics are like a specialized wrench designed to jam a very specific gear found only in that bacterial machine. Because human "machinery" is built differently (different gears, different sizes), the wrench doesn't fit our parts—so it breaks the bacteria’s function while leaving us completely functional.
4. Blood Pressure Medication: The Garden Hose
The Concept: Reducing the force of blood against artery walls (via relaxing vessels or reducing volume).
The Analogy: Imagine you’re watering the garden. If the hose is narrow or the tap is turned to maximum, the water blasts out with intense pressure. Blood pressure meds either widen the hose (vasodilators) so the same amount of water flows through more easily, or they turn down the tap (diuretics) to reduce the total amount of water in the system. Either way, there’s less stress on the rubber of the hose.
5. Inhalers: Opening the "Pinched Straw"
The Concept: Bronchodilators relax the muscles around the airways.
The Analogy: During an asthma flare-up, your airways aren't just "plugged"—the muscles around them tighten, making the airway feel like you’re trying to breathe through a pinched cocktail straw. Using a rescue inhaler is like someone suddenly releasing the pinch. It doesn’t just clear the path; it physically widens the straw back to its normal size so you can get a full gulp of air.
Dr. Lynora Saxinger
Director, Scientific Communication
Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry