is obviously not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is obviously not" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize something that is clearly not true. For example: "His claim that he had never been to the store before is obviously not true, since the shopkeeper recognized him immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is obviously not true.

The Economist

Something is obviously not working.

The Guardian

This is obviously not that.

The New York Times

That is obviously not a big difference.

The New York Times

That is obviously not an appreciable decline.

The New York Times

This list is,  obviously, not exhaustive.

Independent

This sample is obviously not scientific.

The New York Times

"This is obviously not a healthy model".

The New York Times

That is obviously not quite true.

The Economist

It is obviously not just me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Wells Fargo is obviously not WorldCom.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is obviously not" to express a clear and easily understood contradiction or disagreement. Ensure the context makes the reason for the obviousness clear to the reader.

Common error

While "is obviously not" is useful, overuse diminishes its impact. Vary your language to avoid sounding repetitive and to maintain a stronger, more persuasive tone. Consider using more nuanced phrasing if the point is not universally apparent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is obviously not" functions as an emphatic negation, asserting that something is certainly untrue. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to highlight a clear contradiction or disagreement, similar to examples found in The New York Times and The Economist.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is obviously not" is a common and grammatically correct way to express emphatic negation. As Ludwig AI states, it emphasizes that something is clearly untrue. While it appears most frequently in news and media, it's also present in scientific and formal contexts, though it might be perceived as slightly informal in those settings. When using this phrase, ensure the reason for the obviousness is clear to your audience and avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "is clearly not" or "is definitely not" can offer variety. Ultimately, "is obviously not" is a valuable tool for expressing strong disagreement when used judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is clearly not

Replaces "obviously" with "clearly", maintaining the emphasis on the evident nature of the statement.

is definitely not

Substitutes "obviously" with "definitely", indicating a strong certainty about the negation.

is certainly not

Emphasizes the negation with "certainly", suggesting a lack of doubt.

is patently not

Uses "patently" instead of "obviously", implying that the negation is easily recognizable.

is undeniably not

Replaces "obviously" with "undeniably", highlighting the impossibility of denying the statement.

it is not obvious that

Inverts the structure to express that something is not apparent or easily understood.

it's not apparent that

States that something isn't easily noticeable or understood.

it cannot be said that

Uses a more formal tone to indicate that a statement is not true or valid.

it does not follow that

Expresses that something doesn't logically result from a previous statement or assumption.

it's far from clear that

Indicates that something is not easily understood, and may even be doubted.

FAQs

How can I use "is obviously not" in a sentence?

Use "is obviously not" to negate a statement when the contradiction is easily understood or apparent. For example, "His claim that he didn't know about the meeting "is obviously not" true, as he sent the email invitation."

What are some alternatives to "is obviously not"?

You can use alternatives like "is clearly not", "is definitely not", or "is certainly not" depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "is obviously not" in formal writing?

While "is obviously not" is acceptable, it might be perceived as slightly informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "it is not obvious that" or "it cannot be said that" for a more sophisticated tone.

When should I avoid using "is obviously not"?

Avoid using "is obviously not" when the contradiction isn't clear to everyone, as it might sound condescending or dismissive. In those situations, it's better to provide reasoning or evidence to support your claim.