convoluted situations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "convoluted situations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe complex or intricate circumstances that are difficult to understand or navigate. Example: "The negotiations became increasingly challenging due to the convoluted situations that arose from differing interests among the parties involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the two are often thrust into convoluted situations, and there is a confusing array of subsidiary characters.

The New York Times - Arts

But the presence of God is signaled in Matarazzo's work by far subtler means: the assertion of a sort of global symmetry, of a fate that takes away and a grace that restores, returning the most chaotic, convoluted situations to a state of order and justice.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The International Boxing Federation IBFF) was established in 1983, which added to an already convoluted situation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Los Angeles Lakers' already convoluted situation became even more complicated yesterday when it was announced that the club was in serious discussions with Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski concerning its vacant head-coaching position.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a turf war that further complicated an already convoluted situation.

Vice

The most influential early attempt to sort out the convoluted situation was produced by Charles W. Gilmore in 1920.

Wikipedia

A convoluted situation developed on the Transvaal's western frontier, where burghers had crossed the border defined in the Pretoria Convention and formed two new Boer republics, Stellaland and Goshen, on former Tswana territory in 1882.

Wikipedia

He promised to reveal the details but only spent a few seconds explaining the convoluted situation, adding that Televisa, Mexico's television behemoth, had been paying for Changoleón's treatment at an alcoholism rehab center.

Vice

Rather than clarifying relationships among these taxa, our results show a more convoluted situation than was previously thought to exist.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The convoluted situation with the observed effects of "H2S" is a strong indication that future experiments need to be benchmarked against a standard and standard conditions with careful control and documentation of concentrations.

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B

The naming conventions on this one are admittedly convoluted, but the situation essentially shakes out like this: Fujifilm and Xerox founded Fuji Xerox in 1962.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scenario as "convoluted situations", ensure you provide enough context to help your audience understand the key complexities involved. Break down the components to clarify the entanglement.

Common error

Avoid using "convoluted situations" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Seek alternative phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "convoluted situations" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "convoluted" modifies the noun "situations". It describes situations that are complex and difficult to understand. As Ludwig highlights, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "convoluted situations" accurately describes intricate and confusing scenarios. While grammatically sound, as affirmed by Ludwig, its frequency is uncommon. It often appears in neutral contexts such as news reports, but less frequently in formal or informal communication. For clarity, provide context when using this phrase. When aiming for alternative phrasing to the main query, consider options like "complex scenarios" or "intricate circumstances" to enhance variety and precision. Steer clear of overuse to prevent repetitiveness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complex scenarios

Replaces "situations" with "scenarios", implying hypothetical or planned situations, somewhat reducing the emphasis on real-world events.

intricate circumstances

Substitutes "convoluted" with "intricate" emphasizing detailed and complex nature of the circumstances.

complicated predicaments

Uses "predicaments" instead of "situations", suggesting a difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situation.

confusing circumstances

Focuses on the confusing aspect of the situation, removing the implication of complexity.

complex state of affairs

Replaces both words to focus on a wider and complicated perspective of a determined situation.

difficult situations

Focuses on the challenging aspect of the situation, highlighting the difficulties.

tangled web of events

Emphasizes the interconnected and confusing nature of the events involved, using a metaphor.

labyrinthine conditions

Uses "labyrinthine" to describe the confusing and maze-like nature of the conditions.

Byzantine complexities

Replaces "situations" with "complexities" to refer to a wider complex event using an adjective to give more flair to the sentence.

bewildering circumstances

Highlights the confusing and disorienting aspect of the circumstances.

FAQs

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

You can use "convoluted situations" to describe complex or confusing scenarios. For example: "The business deal led to several "convoluted situations" that were difficult to resolve".

What are some alternatives to "convoluted situations"?

Alternatives include "complex scenarios", "intricate circumstances", or "complicated predicaments" depending on the specific context.

Is "convoluted situations" formal or informal language?

"Convoluted situations" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider more precise alternatives like "complex state of affairs".

What makes a situation "convoluted"?

A situation is "convoluted" when it involves many interconnected elements, making it difficult to understand or resolve. It implies a level of complexity that goes beyond simple confusion.