is rather convoluted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather convoluted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is complex, intricate, or difficult to understand, often referring to explanations, arguments, or narratives. Example: "The author's argument in the article is rather convoluted, making it hard for readers to follow the main point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Apparently, these hate-mongers' definition of "majority" is rather convoluted.

Huffington Post

For instance, a typical description of the glucose uptake process might be in the form of a kinetic Michaelis-Menten process of the type (3.2a) This differential equation can be solved analytically, but the explicit solution of y as a function of time is rather convoluted.

BMC Systems Biology

The computation of C a or C D from the geometry model is rather convoluted (Sentman, 1961; Cook, 1965; Moe and Moe, 1996; Moe et al., 1998) and is in fact still a matter of much debate (Moe and Moe, 2006; Bowman et al., 2008; Doornbos et al., 2010; Doornbos, 2011).

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The mechanics of the new format are rather convoluted.

Independent

As Grimm noted when I talked to him ahead of today's announcement, the traditional method of buying native ads tends to be rather convoluted and manual.

TechCrunch

But that's it: I didn't buy one of the characters, I didn't buy one of the plot twists, I found the stuff about a Halliburton-esque company rather convoluted and I was completely absorbed by the rest.

The Guardian - Books

UM also needs to be more transparent about how they handle sexual assault cases, because at the present it's a rather convoluted process".

Huffington Post

Sometimes the Freudian picture got rather convoluted.

The Economist

Given the various menu layers involved in adding third party keyboards to iOS 8 this is undoubtedly a rather convoluted process.

TechCrunch

The whole story is convoluted and rather sad.

Huffington Post

However, the minimum MSE approach is more convoluted to implement, as two filters must be designed rather than one.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is rather convoluted" when you want to describe something as complex and difficult to follow, but avoid overusing it in close proximity to other similar phrases.

Common error

Avoid using "is rather convoluted" in very informal contexts. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual conversation or writing. Simpler alternatives like "is complicated" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather convoluted" primarily functions as a descriptor, attributing a quality of complexity and difficulty to a subject. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its grammatical correctness and usability. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in describing processes, explanations, or systems.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is rather convoluted" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something complex and difficult to understand. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across diverse sources like news, science, and business. While not overly frequent, it is a useful descriptor when precision is needed. For more informal contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferable. Its communicative purpose is to highlight complexity, serving as a warning or explanation for potential comprehension challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite intricate

Replaces "rather convoluted" with synonyms to suggest a complex and detailed nature.

is somewhat complex

Uses "somewhat" instead of "rather" and "complex" for "convoluted", indicating a degree of complexity.

is fairly complicated

Substitutes "rather" with "fairly" and "convoluted" with "complicated", conveying difficulty.

is quite labyrinthine

Employs "labyrinthine" to emphasize the intricate and confusing nature.

is excessively intricate

Uses "excessively" to intensify the level of intricacy beyond the norm.

is unnecessarily complex

Highlights the complexity as being without necessity or justification.

is unduly complicated

Similar to "unnecessarily complex", but with a slightly different emphasis.

presents significant complexities

Shifts the structure to focus on the existence of complexities rather than direct attribution.

involves considerable intricacy

Highlights the involvement of a high degree of detail and complexity.

exhibits a tangled structure

Suggests the complexity is due to a confused or disordered arrangement.

FAQs

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

You can use "is rather convoluted" to describe processes, explanations, or arguments that are difficult to understand due to their complexity. For example, "The explanation of the tax law "is rather convoluted"".

What does "is rather convoluted" mean?

The phrase "is rather convoluted" means that something is complex, intricate, and difficult to understand. The word "convoluted" implies that something is twisted or complicated in an unnecessary or confusing way.

Which is a more formal way to say "is rather convoluted"?

A more formal way to express the same idea would be "is unduly complex" or "exhibits significant intricacy". These alternatives maintain a high level of formality while conveying the same meaning.

What are some simpler alternatives to "is rather convoluted"?

Simpler alternatives include "is complicated", "is complex", or "is confusing". These options are easier to understand and more suitable for informal contexts.