a convoluted method

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a convoluted method" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or approach that is complex, intricate, or difficult to understand. Example: "The project was delayed due to the team's reliance on a convoluted method that confused everyone involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Drug trafficking was a much less convoluted method of skirting the congressional ban on funding the Contras, and the CIA's inspector general found that in the early years after Congress cut off Contra funding, the CIA had alerted Congress about the allegations of drug trafficking.

Huffington Post

This seemingly convoluted method may not seem intuitive at first, but turning a problem on its head can uncover rather obvious solutions to the original problem.

WikiHow

The convoluted method prevents its use for following (and contributing) to debate in a chronological and rational way.

BBC

As the electoral college prepares to meet on Monday to formally elect the next US president, an attempt by activists to overturn Donald Trump's victory has brought renewed attention to the unique, albeit convoluted, method by which the United States elects its president.

The Guardian

Essentially, you have to know their Twitter handle already to find them, or rely on some other more convoluted method rather than just say, looking them up by name.

TechCrunch

But the first release was laughably anti-social as most people spend time in iTunes listening to music they already own and not shopping for new music — or trying to find music they already own to share it via some convoluted method.

TechCrunch

"Pages and pages of convoluted methods make me worry, though," Dr. Brett said.

The New York Times - Health

This trend is exacerbated when dual-stock structures or other convoluted methods are used to maintain control.

The Economist

For 2016, the so-called CAFE standards (it stands for corporate average fuel economy) require automakers to obtain an average rating of 35.5 mpg across all of its light-duty vehicle lines in the U.S., or at least under the convoluted methods in which mileage is computed for CAFE purposes.

Forbes

The French say they are struggling to protect an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, or A.O.C., a convoluted certification that authenticates the content, method and origin of a French agricultural product.

The New York Times

In this data set we observed a total of 93 spectra having two true positives [ 40], which was the motivation for the current study to evaluate how well different database search methods perform given a convoluted MS/MS spectrum.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process as "a convoluted method", be specific about why it is convoluted. Detail the steps or aspects that make it unnecessarily complex.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling a method as "convoluted" without providing context. Explain what aspects of the method are complex or confusing to give your audience a clear understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a convoluted method" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "convoluted" modifies the noun "method". It acts as a descriptor, indicating a particular quality of the method in question. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a convoluted method" is used to describe an approach or process that is unnecessarily complex and difficult to understand. Grammatically correct, it functions as a noun phrase and is often employed to critique inefficiencies. While its register is relatively neutral, it commonly appears in analytical contexts such as news, science, and wiki content. As confirmed by Ludwig, using the phrase implies that simpler, more direct alternatives exist. When using "a convoluted method" in writing, it's important to specify why the method is convoluted to provide clarity to your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complicated approach

Replaces "convoluted" with a more common synonym, "complicated", maintaining the sense of complexity but with simpler wording.

an intricate process

Substitutes both "convoluted" and "method" with synonyms highlighting the detailed and complex nature of the procedure.

a complex procedure

Similar to 'a complicated approach' but uses 'procedure' to replace 'method' emphasizing the systematic nature of the approach.

a tangled scheme

Uses "tangled" to convey the confusing nature and "scheme" instead of "method", implying a plan that is difficult to follow.

an elaborate system

Replaces "convoluted" with "elaborate" and "method" with "system", suggesting a detailed and complex arrangement.

a Byzantine technique

Draws on the historical connotation of "Byzantine" to suggest excessive complexity and secretiveness in the technique.

a tortuous route

Emphasizes the indirect and winding nature of the "method", implying difficulty and unnecessary complexity.

a labyrinthine strategy

Evokes the image of a labyrinth to describe a complex and confusing strategy.

a knotty solution

Uses "knotty" to suggest a solution that is full of complications and difficult to untangle.

an unnecessarily complex way

Directly criticizes the method as being more complex than necessary, adding a tone of disapproval.

FAQs

What does "a convoluted method" mean?

The phrase "a convoluted method" describes a way of doing something that is unnecessarily complex and difficult to understand. It implies that there are simpler, more direct alternatives.

What can I say instead of "a convoluted method"?

You can use alternatives like "a complicated approach", "an intricate process", or "a complex procedure" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it always negative to describe something as "a convoluted method"?

While generally negative, implying unnecessary complexity, "a convoluted method" can sometimes be used neutrally to simply describe something's complexity without necessarily criticizing it. However, the context usually suggests a preference for simplicity.

How can I identify if a method is truly "a convoluted method"?

A method might be considered "a convoluted method" if it involves many unnecessary steps, requires specialized knowledge that isn't readily available, or if the same result could be achieved through a simpler, more direct process.