clear and obvious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear and obvious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is easily understood or apparent without any ambiguity. Example: "The instructions were clear and obvious, making it easy for everyone to follow along."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are clear and obvious goals.

The Guardian - Sport

One clear and obvious step is to allow "underlay".

The Economist

From his Mount Sinai, everything is clear and obvious.

The New York Times - Books

"We don't have a clear and obvious way to insert ourselves".

The New York Times

While the animation makes this very clear and obvious, it is simply not true.

The New York Times

The characters have little interior life; their motives are clear and obvious".

The New York Times - Books

Facebook's clear and obvious impact on the children of the 1980s.

The Guardian

The introduction of VAR for addressing "clear and obvious" errors was exposed to ridicule here.

The Guardian - Sport

"Some of the text says it needs to be a clear and obvious mistake by the referee; if it's a yellow card it's not clear and obvious because it's just an interpretation.

The Guardian - Sport

GROVESAshford, KentCut Europe adriftSIR The case that Europe needs America ("Weathering the storm", September 9th) is manifestly clear and obvious.

The Economist

"It's clear and obvious to me that this whole thing was started and fueled by the unions," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clear and obvious" when you want to emphasize that something is easily understood or immediately apparent without requiring much thought or analysis. It's particularly effective when addressing potential confusion or ambiguity.

Common error

While "clear and obvious" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in a single text. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Consider using synonyms like "evident" or "apparent" to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

Adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It serves to describe a quality or characteristic that is easily perceived and understood. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered grammatically correct, adding reliability to its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clear and obvious" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to highlight the ease of understanding and undeniable nature of a subject, often aiming to eliminate ambiguity. While versatile and appropriate for a range of contexts from news to science, it is most prevalent in news and media. To avoid redundancy, writers should consider synonyms like "plain and evident" or "readily apparent". Its widespread usage across authoritative sources underscores its reliability in conveying straightforward, unambiguous information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plain and evident

Replaces "clear" with "plain" and "obvious" with "evident", maintaining a similar level of formality and directness.

self-evident

Indicates that something is obvious without needing explanation or proof.

readily apparent

Substitutes both adjectives with a phrase emphasizing ease of perception.

easily discernible

Focuses on the ease with which something can be distinguished or recognized.

patent and unmistakable

Uses more emphatic synonyms to highlight the undeniable nature of something.

unquestionably clear

Highlights the certainty and lack of doubt surrounding the clarity of something.

blindingly obvious

Adds intensity to the obviousness, suggesting it's impossible to miss.

distinct and noticeable

Focuses on something being easily seen and attracting attention.

manifest and palpable

Employs more formal and somewhat stronger terms to denote clear visibility and tangibility.

crystal clear

An idiomatic expression emphasizing extreme clarity and ease of understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "clear and obvious" in a sentence?

The phrase "clear and obvious" is typically used to describe facts, reasons, or solutions that are easily understood and require no further explanation. For example, "The benefits of exercise are "clear and obvious"".

What are some alternatives to "clear and obvious"?

You can use alternatives like "plain and evident", "readily apparent", or "easily discernible" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say something is both "clear" and "obvious"?

While both words have similar meanings, using them together emphasizes the undeniable nature of something. It suggests the matter is not only easily understood but also immediately apparent to anyone.

In what contexts is "clear and obvious" most appropriate?

The phrase "clear and obvious" is appropriate in various contexts, including news reporting, scientific writing, and formal business communication, where conveying certainty and lack of ambiguity is crucial. However, you should vary language to avoid overuse.