It was clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'It was clear' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something was easily understood or visible. For example, "It was clear that Sue hadn't done her homework, as she had no idea what the answer was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was clear.

The New York Times

It was clear from his….

The New Yorker

It was clear that. . .

The Washington Post

It was clear where to hit them.

The New Yorker

It was clear, light, sweet and floral.

The New York Times

"It was clear it would be punitive".

The New York Times

It was clear immediately that it was.

Independent

It was clear that they were fragile.

The New York Times

It was clear what had happened.

The New York Times

It was clear to everybody.

The Guardian - Sport

It was clear they knew.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It was clear" to introduce a conclusion or observation that is easily understood from the preceding context. This helps create a smooth flow of information.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "It was clear". Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives such as "Evidently" or rephrasing the sentence to avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It was clear" functions as an introductory clause to express certainty or obviousness. Ludwig examples show its use in conveying readily apparent information or conclusions. This aligns with Ludwig AI stating the phrase indicates something easily understood or visible.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "It was clear" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate obviousness or easy understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts and serves to introduce a conclusion or observation that is easily deduced from the preceding information. While versatile, overusing it can lead to redundancy, so varying sentence structure with alternatives is advisable. The phrase functions as an introductory clause and carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for diverse communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was obvious

Replaces 'clear' with 'obvious', emphasizing the ease of understanding.

It was evident

Substitutes 'clear' with 'evident', suggesting a more formal tone.

It became apparent

Shifts focus to the moment of realization or understanding.

It was plain to see

Emphasizes the visual aspect of understanding something.

It was apparent to everyone

Highlights that understanding was universal.

It was understood

Focuses on the shared understanding of a situation.

The situation was obvious

Shifts the focus from the action to the situation.

The message was unmistakable

Emphasizes the lack of ambiguity in a message.

There was no doubt

Indicates a certainty or lack of uncertainty.

It was self-evident

Suggests the information was obvious without needing proof or explanation.

FAQs

What does "It was clear" mean?

The phrase "It was clear" signifies that something was easily understood, obvious, or readily apparent. It's used to indicate a lack of ambiguity or uncertainty about a situation, fact, or intention.

How to use "It was clear" in a sentence?

You can use "It was clear" to introduce a statement that is a logical conclusion based on preceding information. For example, "The sky was dark and cloudy; "it was clear" that a storm was coming."

What can I say instead of "It was clear"?

You can use alternatives like "it was obvious", "it was evident", or "it became apparent" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "It was clear that" grammatically correct?

Yes, "It was clear that" is grammatically correct. The "that" introduces a subordinate clause, providing more detail about what was clear. For instance, "It was clear that he hadn't studied for the exam."