is rather clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather clear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is easy to understand or unambiguous. Example: "The instructions provided in the manual are rather clear, making it easy for users to follow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"The law is rather clear on this," said Eliot Lichtman, a veteran immigration lawyer.

The New York Times

(Try to figure out exactly how the party feels about Israel, for example).In other cases, it is rather clear.

The Economist

"The message is rather clear: He just can't be the next chairman," said John H. Sununu of New Hampshire, a former governor who is his state's Republican chairman.

The New York Times

One aim of this political theatrics is rather clear: the North Korean government wants to remind the world of its existence and demonstrate that it is cheaper to make a deal than sanction it.

The Guardian

The general goal of the search system is rather clear and well defined.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

By contrast, the intuition behind the result of who defines the highest well-being across the population is rather clear.

SERIEs

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

What it should not do is rather clearer.

The Guardian - Opinion

And the question of a champion is rather clearer, as well.

The Economist

The dates of composition used here are based on external and internal evidence, on general stylistic and thematic considerations, and on the observation that an output of no more than two plays a year seems to have been established in those periods when dating is rather clearer than others.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Second, when we look at the AU-rich and GC-rich quarters, the trend is rather clear-cut: the insensitivity is related to codon ending, i.e., when codons are in the AU-rich quarter, those ending with A or U are insensitive but those ending with G or C are sensitive.

Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics

The further evolution of WRKY genes in multicellular plants is rather clearer.

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is rather clear" to introduce a point that doesn't require extensive explanation or justification, streamlining your writing and keeping the focus on more complex aspects.

Common error

Avoid using "is rather clear" when the point is already exceedingly obvious to the reader. This can make your writing sound condescending or redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather clear" functions as a qualifier, indicating a moderate degree of certainty or obviousness. Ludwig examples show it introduces statements requiring minimal explanation, supported by Ludwig AI's assessment of correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is rather clear" is a useful qualifier that suggests a moderate level of obviousness or ease of understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly employed in both scientific and journalistic contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to avoid redundancy by not using it for already exceedingly obvious points. Alternatives like "is quite obvious" or "is fairly evident" can be used for similar meanings. Using "is rather clear" judiciously can help streamline explanations and maintain focus on more complex details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite obvious

Emphasizes the ease of understanding more strongly.

is fairly evident

Suggests a slightly lower degree of certainty or obviousness.

is pretty straightforward

Implies simplicity and a lack of complication.

is reasonably apparent

Indicates something is noticeable with a bit of scrutiny.

is largely understood

Focuses on the general comprehension of a topic.

is broadly accepted

Shifts the focus to the agreement on a particular idea or concept.

is generally recognized

Highlights widespread acknowledgment of a fact or situation.

is plainly visible

Emphasizes the visual aspect of being easily noticed or understood.

is distinctly noticeable

Emphasizes the quality of standing out and being noticed.

is readily discernible

Highlights the ease with which something can be distinguished or perceived.

FAQs

What does "is rather clear" mean?

The phrase "is rather clear" means that something is easily understood or evident, though perhaps not overwhelmingly so. It suggests a moderate degree of obviousness.

How can I use "is rather clear" in a sentence?

You can use "is rather clear" to introduce a statement that is relatively easy to understand. For example: "The reason for the decline in sales "is rather clear": the marketing campaign was poorly executed."

What are some alternatives to "is rather clear"?

You can use alternatives such as "is quite obvious", "is fairly evident", or "is pretty straightforward" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "is rather clear" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "is rather clear" when you want to indicate that something is not overly complicated and should be easy for the reader to grasp, providing a smooth transition to more intricate details.