be forthright about it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be forthright about it" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to encourage someone to be honest and direct about a particular issue or situation. For example, "I think we should be forthright about it and discuss our concerns openly." Alternative expressions include "be honest about it" and "be straightforward about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But where we don't actually intend to, we should be forthright about it — rather than pretending that change is perpetually just around the corner, and behaving as though our choices are justified by how much anguish we express while making them.

The New York Times

Champions of cost-benefit analysis -- from the controversial Bush administration regulatory guru John D. Graham to the more circumspect liberal law professor Cass Sunstein -- maintain that the government is always valuing human life implicitly anyway, so we might as well be forthright about it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Leah Sears, Georgia's first black female chief justice, is forthright about it.

The Economist

Bostrom prefers to act as a cartographer rather than a polemicist, but beneath his exhaustive mapping of scenarios one can sense an argument being built and perhaps a fear of being forthright about it.

The New Yorker

"Our attitude and culture in the Department of Defense is to look a problem in the face, understand it and be forthright about taking it on," Mr. Carter said.

The New York Times

But it's just a fact that many people prefer to finance the immediate emergency response, and Yele should be forthright about whether it is rendering short-term or long-term assistance.

Huffington Post

While TBN said it provided tens of millions of dollars' worth of free advertising time to conventional charities like the Salvation Army and a few million dollars in some years for aid to disaster victims, it is forthright about its overriding purpose: "to spread the Gospel to the world" through its cable systems, satellite transmitters and, now, via computers and smartphones.

The New York Times

The company has always been forthright about its toughness.

The New York Times

Unsurprisingly, the military junta is not predisposed to being forthright about its impending downfall.

The Guardian - Opinion

A lawyer for Milbank, Stephen Blauner, replied that the firm had been forthright about its Enron work.

The New York Times

Though it wasn't explicitly acknowledged during the meeting, Maryland Racing Commission chairman Bruce Quade said the Stronach Group has been forthright about its plan to examine all possibilities.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

It is particularly effective in persuasive writing to urge stakeholders to abandon evasive language.

Common error

Do not confuse 'forthright', which means honest and direct, with 'forthwith', which means immediately or without delay. Saying you will 'be forthright about it' implies you will speak the truth, not that you will do something instantly.

Linguistic Context

This is a verb phrase typically used in the imperative mood or as an infinitive following a modal verb. It functions as an exhortation to adopt a specific communicative stance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical accuracy across various contexts, noting that "be forthright about it" serves as a strong directive for clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

To conclude, "be forthright about it" is a robust and sophisticated expression used to champion the values of honesty and direct communication. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is exceptionally prevalent in high-quality journalism, often appearing when public figures or institutions are urged to be more transparent about their actions or intentions. It is more formal than simply being 'honest' and carries a weight of ethical responsibility. By choosing to "be forthright about it", a writer or speaker signals a commitment to truth that is both firm and professional, avoiding the pitfalls of ambiguity or evasion frequently criticized in modern discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be honest about it

More common and general in everyday conversation

be candid about it

Suggests a slightly more informal or personal level of openness

be straightforward about it

Emphasizes the lack of complexity or hidden agendas

be open about it

Implies a lack of secrecy without the formal weight of forthrightness

be transparent about it

Commonly used in corporate and governmental contexts

be direct about it

Focuses on the delivery of the message rather than just the truthfulness

be upfront about it

Idiomatic and suggests being honest from the very beginning

be truthful about it

A more literal and strictly moralistic alternative

be plain about it

Suggests using simple, unadorned language to convey the truth

be sincere about it

Focuses more on the emotional authenticity of the speaker

FAQs

How to use "be forthright about it" in a sentence?

You can use it as an imperative or as part of a modal construction, such as "We must "be forthright about it" if we want to maintain public trust" or "Please "be forthright about it" during the interview".

What can I say instead of "be forthright about it"?

You can use alternatives like "be honest about it", "be candid about it" or "be transparent about it" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "be forthright about it" and "be blunt about it"?

While both involve directness, being "be blunt about it" often implies a lack of tact or potentially being rude, whereas "be forthright about it" focuses on honesty and ethical transparency.

Is "be forthright about it" formal?

Yes, it is considered a more formal and sophisticated way to say "be honest about it", making it ideal for business, journalism and academic writing.