clearly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

"clearly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is obvious or well understood. For example, "The instructions were written clearly enough that everyone should be able to follow them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Doesn't answer the question clearly enough?

The New York Times

This was his country, clearly enough.

The New Yorker

"Clearly, enough was enough," she said.

The Washington Post

But he could see clearly enough.

The Guardian

"But not clearly enough," she admits now.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But she can see it clearly enough.

The New York Times - Sports

I could not think clearly enough to choose.

The New York Times

The love for this bit comes across clearly enough.

Independent

The success of Gok Wan is demonstrates that clearly enough.

Independent

This dismay was clearly enough to spook investors and analysts.

The Washington Post

It enables me to hear clearly enough to beat-match.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clearly enough" to indicate that something is not just clear, but sufficiently so for a particular purpose or understanding. For example, "The data was presented clearly enough to convince the investors."

Common error

Avoid using "clearly enough" when the situation doesn't warrant emphasis. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive or condescending. Instead, assess whether "clearly" or another synonym would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clearly enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which something is clear or understandable. As Ludwig AI points out, it suggests that something is not just clear, but sufficiently so for a particular purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clearly enough" serves as an adverbial phrase indicating a sufficient level of clarity for a given context. It is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While versatile, it's best employed when emphasizing that something has reached the necessary threshold of clarity. Alternatives include "sufficiently clear" and "easily understood". The phrase is predominantly found in News & Media and Science sources, reflecting its broad applicability. While generally neutral in register, overuse should be avoided to maintain writing conciseness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently clear

Replaces the adverb "clearly" with its adjective form "clear", while retaining the core meaning of adequacy.

adequately clear

Similar to "sufficiently clear", but may imply a minimum level of clarity has been met.

with sufficient clarity

Rephrases the sentence for formal contexts, keeps focus on the clearness of the subject.

plainly stated

Emphasizes the straightforward nature of the communication, focusing on the act of stating something without ambiguity.

sufficiently obvious

Highlights the apparent nature of something, suggesting it's easily noticeable or understandable.

easily understood

Shifts the focus to the receiver of the message, emphasizing how simple it is to comprehend.

unambiguously

Focuses on the absence of any potential for misinterpretation.

distinctly

Emphasizes the sharpness and definition of the information, making it easy to perceive.

understandably

Indicates that something is easy to grasp or appreciate, often because it aligns with common sense.

sufficiently

Shortened form focusing on adequacy and meeting requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "clearly enough" in a sentence?

Use "clearly enough" to express that something is sufficiently clear for a particular purpose or understanding. For instance, "The instructions were explained "clearly enough" for anyone to follow."

What are some alternatives to saying "clearly enough"?

You can use alternatives such as "sufficiently clear", "easily understood", or "plainly stated" depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "clearly enough" or "sufficiently clear"?

Both "clearly enough" and "sufficiently clear" are grammatically correct. "Clearly enough" emphasizes the manner in which something is presented, while "sufficiently clear" highlights the adequacy of the clarity itself. Choose the one that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "clearly enough" and "obviously"?

"Clearly enough" implies that something is understandable given the explanation or presentation. "Obviously", on the other hand, suggests that something is self-evident and requires little to no explanation. For example, the need for water in the desert is "obviously" important, while something may be explained "clearly enough" to be understandable.