clear to know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear to know" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something is easy to understand or comprehend, but the phrasing is awkward. Example: "It is clear to know that the project deadline is approaching quickly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Although Markovits asks us to spend relatively little time in his company, Byron's depredations come through loud and clear: to know him is to dislike him.

The New York Times - Books

On the premise of this, it is very clear to know which parts of surrounding rock should be strengthen or which parts of liners should install the plastic hinges to avoid seismic damage.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

We agree that it is not clear to know with certainty whether a mouse experiences tinnitus.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He noted that Roark was not "cleared to know about the expanded surveillance program, so I did not go into great detail".

The New Yorker

At that time, the one thing I feared the most was being compromised by UK politicians who were security cleared to know what I was doing.

Huffington Post

I'm not sure the court decisions are clear enough to know.

The New York Times

Mitch Shapiro, who is hearing-impaired and legally blind, depends on clear announcements to know where the training is stopping.

The New York Times

My objective was clear: get to know my customer, get to know their customers, sell them everything they need and then sell them everything they don't.

Independent

Voters also have a clear need to know about the candidates' medical histories before they decide whom to back for the most demanding job in the world.

The New York Times

To be successful, we all need to be data companies – as data is the clear way to know what our audience wants.

TechCrunch

Irrespective of what happens in the regulatory space, investors need a clear way to know whether their interests are being put first in an advisory relationship.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "clear to know". Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "easy to understand" or "readily apparent" to ensure your writing is precise and easily comprehensible.

Common error

A common mistake is using "clear to know" when intending to convey ease of understanding. To avoid this, remember that "clear" describes the quality of something being understood, not the action of knowing itself. Use phrases like "easy to understand" or "obvious" to express the intended meaning accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear to know" attempts to function as an adjectival phrase indicating ease of understanding. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, this is not a correct or standard usage in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "clear to know" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal or professional writing. As Ludwig AI's analysis indicates, it is better to use alternatives like "easy to understand" or "readily apparent" to accurately convey the intended meaning of something being easily understood. While the phrase may occasionally appear in informal contexts, adhering to standard grammatical conventions ensures clearer and more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

easy to understand

Replaces the awkward phrasing with a more common and grammatically correct expression.

simple to grasp

Offers a slightly less formal alternative, emphasizing ease of comprehension.

readily apparent

Shifts the focus to the obviousness of something, rather than the act of knowing.

plainly obvious

Similar to 'readily apparent', highlighting the lack of ambiguity.

unmistakable

Emphasizes the lack of doubt or confusion.

evident

A more formal synonym for 'obvious'.

easy to see

A more literal and straightforward way of saying something is understandable.

immediately obvious

Highlights the speed with which something becomes clear.

obvious to know

Mirrors the structure but it is still incorrect.

clear enough to understand

Adds the extra condition of understanding as something 'clear'

FAQs

What does "clear to know" mean?

The phrase "clear to know" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's often intended to mean something is easy to understand or obvious, but it's not a standard or accepted English expression.

What can I say instead of "clear to know"?

You can use alternatives like "easy to understand", "readily apparent", or "plainly obvious" depending on the context.

Is "clear to know" grammatically correct?

No, "clear to know" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing would be something like "easy to understand" or "clear to see."

How can I use "easy to understand" in a sentence instead of "clear to know"?

Instead of saying "It is clear to know that the deadline is approaching", you can say "It is easy to understand that the deadline is approaching".