are plain to

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Results today are plain to see, Story's hot on the wire of Associated P,V A million horses all over the West, Are living proof the vaccine was best.W Refrain Voice-over: Addresses for reprints may be mailed to Karl M. Johnson.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The benefits are plain to see.

Independent

The bloody results are plain to see.

The Guardian

The effects are plain to see.

The New York Times

The physical effects of obesity are plain to see.

The Guardian

The reasons for this are plain to see.

The Guardian - Opinion

But also groundbreaking achievements are plain to see.

The Guardian

Critics say the reasons are plain to see, but are not being tackled.

The Economist

But that is still very high, and inflationary forces are plain to see.

The New York Times

"Each generation of leaders vows to do that, but the results are plain to see.

The New York Times

The Big Six are subservient to Amazon for reasons that are plain to see.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are plain to" to emphasize that the information is easily understandable and requires no specialized knowledge to grasp. This can strengthen your argument by implying widespread agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "are plain to" when discussing nuanced or complex topics. Overusing it can oversimplify intricate issues and make your argument appear dismissive of alternative perspectives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are plain to" functions as a declarative statement, asserting that something is easily understood or obvious. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples confirming its role in conveying clarity and self-evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are plain to" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something is obvious or easily understood. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While versatile, it's best to avoid overusing it in overly complex arguments to prevent oversimplification. Alternatives such as "are clear" or "are obvious" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Employ "are plain to" when aiming to emphasize clarity and widespread understanding of a concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are clear

Replaces "plain" with "clear", emphasizing ease of understanding.

are obvious

Substitutes "plain" with "obvious", highlighting the readily apparent nature of something.

are evident

Uses "evident" instead of "plain", suggesting that something is easily perceived through evidence.

are apparent

Replaces "plain" with "apparent", indicating that something is easily noticed.

are easily seen

Rephrases to focus on the visual aspect of being noticeable.

are readily understood

Emphasizes the ease with which something can be comprehended.

are unmistakable

Highlights that something cannot be mistaken or misinterpreted.

are beyond doubt

Indicates that something is certain and leaves no room for questioning.

can be easily seen

Focuses on the action of seeing and the ease with which it can be done.

are manifest

Uses a more formal term to indicate that something is clearly revealed or displayed.

FAQs

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

The phrase "are plain to" is used to indicate that something is obvious or easily understood. For example, "The benefits of exercise "are plain to" see."

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

You can use alternatives like "are clear", "are obvious", or "are evident" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "are plain to"?

It's best to use "are plain to" when you want to emphasize that something is easily understood or readily apparent, requiring no deep analysis or expertise.

What's the difference between "are plain to" and "are clear"?

While both phrases suggest something is easily understood, "are plain to" often implies a sense of obviousness or self-evidence, whereas "are clear" simply means easy to perceive or understand.