firmly clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "firmly clear" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It could be used to emphasize that something is not only clear but also strongly or decisively so, though it may be better to choose a more standard expression. Example: "The instructions were firmly clear, leaving no room for confusion."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At his right was a lady who made it casually but firmly clear, that she divided her year between New York, Tuxedo and Palm Beach.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The 50 demonstrators offered noisy resistance to the phalanx of police as they slowly but firmly cleared the path for the rig that next week will begin drilling 10,000ft down through the former peat bog and into the coal bed methane and eventually reaching shale in search of natural gas.

Independent

Jordanian officials politely but firmly made clear that the idea is a nonstarter.

The Washington Post

A person with this illness holds a false belief firmly, despite clear evidence or proof to the contrary.

Harvard University

Each time he was carried away on a stretcher, and there were many who thought that someone – a doctor, the race director, or a member of his Yamaha team – should have said, firmly: "Jorge, clear off to a beach and rest.

Independent

The UK, he added, would "respectfully but firmly" make clear that it remained "deeply concerned about the very large-scale abuses of human rights that still occur".

BBC

By learning to distinguish healthy boundaries from the other three shades of anger, you can foster "true" anger, Gruder says, in which you compassionately yet firmly make clear what fits and doesn't fit for you, as well as what others can count on if your boundaries are honored and if they're not.

Forbes

When a phalanx of public relations people hover too long after Mills has settled down with an interviewer in the deserted restaurant of the Chateau Marmont, she dispatches them firmly, making clear that she doesn't require a baby-sitter.

Los Angeles Times

Rosette and cauline leaves from Arabidopsis and the second pair of true leaves from pea seedlings were pressed firmly onto clear sticky tape and the abaxial epidermal layer and associated mesophyll tissue from each leaf was peeled away using Scotch 3 M™ magic tape.

BMC Plant Biology

Slowly, firmly, he cleared away the scent of Ralph Nelson, David Susskind, and Mickey Rooney.

The New Yorker

They must make it clear — firmly and often — that renewed violence is not the answer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for emphasis, consider stronger alternatives like "unambiguously clear" or "perfectly clear" instead of "firmly clear". While grammatically sound, these options may resonate more naturally with readers.

Common error

Avoid using "firmly clear" excessively in academic or professional contexts where precise and widely accepted language is preferred. Opt for more conventional phrases to ensure clarity and avoid potential misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "firmly clear" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "firmly" modifies "clear" to intensify its meaning. It suggests that something is not only clear but also strongly and definitively so. While Ludwig AI notes the phrase might sound awkward, the examples show it used to convey emphasis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "firmly clear" is an adverb-adjective combination used to emphasize the strength and definiteness of clarity. Although grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests it can sound somewhat awkward and may benefit from stronger, more conventional alternatives such as "perfectly clear" or "unambiguously clear". It appears rarely across various contexts, including news, academia, and science, indicating a need for judicious use in formal writing to ensure optimal clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unambiguously clear

Replaces "firmly" with "unambiguously" to emphasize the lack of ambiguity.

perfectly clear

Uses "perfectly" instead of "firmly" to highlight the completeness of clarity.

absolutely clear

Emphasizes the clarity with "absolutely", suggesting no doubt.

unequivocally clear

Highlights the absence of any ambiguity with "unequivocally".

patently obvious

Shifts from "clear" to "obvious", indicating ease of understanding.

crystal clear

Uses a common idiom to signify complete transparency and understanding.

plainly evident

Replaces "clear" with "evident", focusing on the visibility of the information.

decisively clear

Emphasizes the finality and conclusiveness of the clarity.

indisputably clear

Highlights the lack of room for argument or doubt regarding the clarity.

unmistakably clear

Focuses on the impossibility of misunderstanding the clarity.

FAQs

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

You can use "firmly clear" to emphasize that something is not only clear but also strongly established. For example: "The instructions were firmly clear, leaving no room for confusion."

What can I say instead of "firmly clear"?

You can use alternatives like "perfectly clear", "unambiguously clear", or "crystal clear depending on the context.

Which is correct, "firmly clear" or "perfectly clear"?

Both "firmly clear" and "perfectly clear" are grammatically correct, but "perfectly clear" is more commonly used and widely accepted.

What's the difference between "firmly clear" and "unmistakably clear"?

"Firmly clear" suggests a strong and definite clarity, while "unmistakably clear" emphasizes that something cannot be misunderstood. The choice depends on whether you want to stress the strength or the ease of understanding.