expressly clear

USAGE SUMMARY

"expressly clear" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you wish to emphasize that a particular statement is very obvious, clear, or easy to understand. For example, "The terms outlined in the contract were expressly clear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I will support an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that makes that expressly clear.

The New York Times

The option to die is usually only available to patients suffering unbearable pain who can also make their wish to die expressly clear.

Independent

The possibility remains that the French and others accepted OP12 because in their view it gave them a sufficient basis on which to argue that a second resolution was required (even if that was not made expressly clear).

The Guardian

To his credit, Founder and CEO/CTO Alexey Gavrilov has made it expressly clear on their blog that Zello "is not intended as a replacement for instructions from government emergency agencies or sanctioned rescue organizations.

TechCrunch

While the Gravemind's motivations and goals are not made expressly clear in Halo 2, Halo 3 reveals Gravemind's ultimate goal is to consume all thinking beings in the galaxy.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Indeed, the first British holiday camp was expressly socialist.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps she no longer believes in a federal marriage-ban and just hasn't expressly made that clear.

Huffington Post

Woch Tangai is one of several resettlement areas for returnees that have been cleared expressly for the safe settlement of displaced Afghans forced from their homes by armed conflicts.

Unicef

We have been advised that the policy is expressly to safeguard the clear skyline view of the landmark and there is no limit to the distance behind the dome of the cathedral where the wider setting consultation area ceases to apply.

The Guardian

Congress expressly intended "to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities" throughout their lives, including in employment, and thus to improve the outcomes of the disabled in the labor market and beyond (42 U.S.C. § 12101(b)(1)).

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

In a moment of carelessness last week, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the road by a voice vote — reversing a 1998 law expressly prohibiting the road and clearing the way for up to $50 million in wholly unnecessary spending.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expressly clear" to emphasize that a point is not just understandable, but also distinctly and intentionally made obvious, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Common error

While "expressly clear" is a valid phrase, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations or informal writing. Consider using simpler alternatives like "clearly" or "obviously" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expressly clear" functions as an adverbial modifier enhancing an adjective. According to Ludwig AI, it is a valid English phrase. The adverb "expressly" emphasizes the manner in which something is "clear", indicating it is intentional and distinct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expressly clear" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich phrase used to emphasize intentional and distinct clarity. According to Ludwig AI, it's a valid English phrase although its usage is relatively rare. It's commonly found in neutral contexts, such as news and media, legal documents, or formal business correspondence, where precision is paramount. Alternatives include "unambiguously clear" and "explicitly stated". While effective for emphasis, overuse of "expressly clear" in informal settings may sound overly formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unambiguously clear

Replaces "expressly" with "unambiguously", emphasizing the lack of ambiguity.

explicitly stated

Focuses on the statement being made in an explicit manner, rather than just being clear.

plainly obvious

Shifts the emphasis to the obvious nature of something, making clarity inherent.

distinctly clear

Uses "distinctly" to highlight the clarity as being sharply defined.

patently obvious

Similar to "plainly obvious", but suggests the obviousness is easily recognized.

categorically clear

Highlights that the clarity is without exceptions or conditions.

unequivocally clear

Stresses the absence of any doubt or reservation about the clarity.

definitely clear

Replaces "expressly" with "definitely", emphasizing certainty.

specifically clear

Emphasizes clarity related to a specific point or detail.

particularly clear

Similar to "specifically clear", but emphasizes a specific aspect of clarity.

FAQs

How can I use "expressly clear" in a sentence?

You can use "expressly clear" to emphasize that something is not only understandable but also intentionally and distinctly made obvious. For example, "The contract terms were "expressly clear", leaving no room for confusion".

What are some alternatives to "expressly clear"?

Alternatives to "expressly clear" include "unambiguously clear", "explicitly stated", or "plainly obvious". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "expressly clear" redundant?

While "expressly" and "clear" can sometimes overlap in meaning, "expressly clear" emphasizes an intentional and distinct clarity. It's not always redundant, especially when highlighting the lack of ambiguity.

When is it best to use "expressly clear" versus "clearly"?

"Expressly clear" is best used when emphasizing that something has been made obvious intentionally and without any room for misinterpretation. "Clearly" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply the same level of deliberate emphasis.