convoluted logic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "convoluted logic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe reasoning that is overly complicated or difficult to follow. Example: "The proposal was rejected due to its convoluted logic, which left the committee confused about the main argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

He sounds like a fun guy, even if he has a strangely contrived and convoluted logic about his suit-wearing.

The New York Times - Style

And then, a slightly convoluted logic from them: “By removing duplicate articles from our results, we’ll be able to surface even more stories and viewpoints from journalists and publishers from around the world.

Forbes

Lüdtke and Rutten determined this review as biased for its "arbitrarily defined one subset of eight trials" and they deemed the entire review as "falsely negative". By reducing the number of studies, Shang created convoluted logic that enabled his team to avoid evaluation of ANY of the above high quality studies that were all published in respected medical journals.

HuffPost

But this rather convoluted logic is not the only concern raised by hiring Teach for America teachers.

The Washington Post

Do say: "Society invents a spurious convoluted logic tae absorb and change people whae's behaviour is outside its mainstream".

The Guardian

This involved some convoluted logic about having enjoyed the blessings of the long post-war boom and not leaving our children's generation the same affluence.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Nothing else explains John Roberts' switch – certainly not the convoluted constitutional logic he used to arrive at his decision.

University of California, Berkeley

He has Mr. Warner deliver Andrew's third-act soliloquy, with its magnificently convoluted and passionate logic, summing up his lunatic views -- as though it were a boilerplate stump speech.

The New York Times

The logic is convoluted, but the gist is that renewable energy, by reducing prices, has driven Northern power station (and in the future other baseload generators) out of business.

The Guardian - Opinion

Her logic may sound convoluted, Yogi-esque, but given the craziness that visited Stringer's program last spring without invitation, she made perfect sense.

The New York Times - Sports

His logic on the citizenship issue was perhaps the most convoluted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "convoluted logic", ensure that the complexity is a key aspect of what you're describing. It's best suited for situations where the reasoning is not only complex, but also perhaps unnecessarily so, or difficult to follow. Use this phrase when simpler, more direct reasoning would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "convoluted logic" to describe reasoning that is merely complex. The term implies a level of unnecessary complexity and potential obfuscation. If the logic is intricate but clear, a simpler adjective like "complex" or "detailed" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "convoluted logic" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "convoluted" modifies the noun "logic". This combination typically serves to describe a particular quality or characteristic of the logic being discussed, indicating that it is complex and difficult to follow. The Ludwig AI analysis indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "convoluted logic" is used to describe reasoning that is excessively complex and difficult to follow. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, remember that it carries a critical tone, suggesting that the complexity is unnecessary and potentially obscures the underlying argument. Simpler alternatives, such as "complicated reasoning" or "confusing rationale", may be more appropriate in certain situations. The Ludwig examples illustrate the wide range of contexts where this phrase can be applied, from politics to film analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Byzantine reasoning

This alternative emphasizes the intricate and often unnecessarily complex nature of the reasoning.

tortuous reasoning

This suggests that the reasoning is not straightforward and involves many twists and turns.

intricate reasoning

Focuses on the complexity and detailed nature of the reasoning.

muddled reasoning

Highlights the lack of clarity and potential for confusion in the reasoning.

opaque reasoning

This emphasizes the difficulty in understanding the reasoning process.

complex rationale

Substitutes "logic" with "rationale" to indicate the underlying reasons being complicated.

tangled reasoning

Suggests that the logic is intertwined and difficult to separate.

complex chain of thought

Focuses on the sequence of thoughts being complex rather than the underlying logic.

arcane reasoning

Suggests the reasoning is understood by few and therefore obscure.

abstruse reasoning

This emphasizes the reasoning's difficulty to be understood, being obscure and esoteric.

FAQs

How can I use "convoluted logic" in a sentence?

You can use "convoluted logic" to describe an argument or reasoning that is unnecessarily complex and difficult to follow. For example: "The proposal was rejected due to its convoluted logic, which left the committee confused about the main argument."

What's a simpler way to describe "convoluted logic"?

You can use alternatives like "complicated reasoning" or "confusing rationale" to convey the same idea in a more straightforward manner.

When is it appropriate to use the term "convoluted logic"?

Use "convoluted logic" when the reasoning is not only complex but also seems unnecessarily so, making it difficult to understand the core argument. It suggests that the complexity is a hindrance rather than a helpful elaboration.

What is the difference between "convoluted logic" and "complex logic"?

"Complex logic" simply indicates that the reasoning is intricate and has many parts. "Convoluted logic", on the other hand, implies that the complexity is excessive and makes the reasoning difficult to follow. "Convoluted logic" suggests unnecessary complication.