are obvious to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are obvious to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is clear or evident to a particular person or group. Example: "The benefits of regular exercise are obvious to anyone who values their health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The benefits of social media are obvious to most organisations.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some points are obvious to an untrained eye.

The New York Times

There are universal values which are obvious to us.

The Economist

Its findings are obvious to the casual observer, as they told me in freshman physics.

The New York Times

It's just that more things are obvious to me than to most people".

The New York Times - Magazine

In addition to being eyesores that are obvious to visitors, these unfinished projects can create problems.

The New York Times

"The unusual traveling conditions following a snowfall are obvious to the public," one decision said.

The New York Times

But Evan invented one, and the results are obvious to all of us.

The New Yorker

To many student protesters, the answers are obvious; to many college officials, they are not.

The New York Times

Those who miss are obvious to spot … they have wet legs!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The benefits of low wages and meagre welfare rights are obvious to the investor.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are obvious to", ensure the context clearly defines who the information is obvious to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "are obvious to" when the information is genuinely universally known. Overusing it can make your writing sound condescending or patronizing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are obvious to" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a quality (obviousness) that is perceived by a specific group or individual. It suggests that certain facts, benefits, or drawbacks are easily understood or apparent. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are obvious to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, to indicate that something is easily understood or apparent to a specific group. It's prevalent in News & Media and Science contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to define who the information is obvious to and avoid overusing it to prevent condescension. Consider alternatives like "are clear to" or "are evident to" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are clear to

Replaces "obvious" with "clear", maintaining the meaning of being easily understood.

are evident to

Substitutes "obvious" with "evident", suggesting something is easily noticeable or apparent.

are apparent to

Uses "apparent" instead of "obvious", indicating something is readily perceived or understood.

are plain to see for

Emphasizes the ease of understanding by using the phrase "plain to see", suggesting something is very clear and straightforward.

are easily seen by

Focuses on the visual aspect of understanding, implying something is easily noticeable.

are no secret to

Indicates that something is widely known and not hidden, differing slightly by emphasizing public knowledge.

are understood by

Highlights the comprehension aspect, suggesting something is grasped or known by someone.

are well-known to

Suggests a familiarity with the subject, indicating that the information is commonly known.

are patent to

Implies that something is undeniably obvious or evident, carrying a slightly more formal tone.

are recognizable to

Focuses on the ability to identify or distinguish something, differing by emphasizing recognition rather than general understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "are obvious to" in a sentence?

Use "are obvious to" to indicate that certain facts, benefits, or drawbacks are easily understood or apparent to a particular group of people. For example, "The advantages of renewable energy "are obvious to" environmentalists."

What can I say instead of "are obvious to"?

You can use alternatives like "are clear to", "are evident to", or "are apparent to" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "are obvious for" instead of "are obvious to"?

While "obvious for" can be used in different contexts (e.g., "This solution is obvious for this problem"), when indicating who understands something, ""are obvious to"" is the grammatically correct and more commonly used construction.

What's the difference between "are obvious to" and "are known to"?

"Are obvious to" implies that something is easily understood or apparent. "Are known to" simply means that someone is aware of something, without necessarily implying that it's easily understood.