is somewhat simple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is somewhat simple" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is easy to understand or not complicated, while also implying that it may have some minor complexities. Example: "The concept of gravity is somewhat simple, yet it has profound implications in physics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The plot's spine is somewhat simple: Emmeline (Emma Galvin) struggles with college social life and her substance-abusing parents (Katey Parker and Dan Vidor), as she recalls her alternately fractious and affectionate relationship with her sister, Lucy (Eija Ranta), who has died of unclear causes.

The New York Times

The new dodge is somewhat simple.

TechCrunch

In one-off experiments like this one, spoofing that string with one pulled from an actual 4S is somewhat simple — Apple wouldn't (/couldn't) ever really notice.

TechCrunch

The driver for this is somewhat simple: The human population is creating more waste every year and there are fewer options for disposal.

TechCrunch

The dynamics of thrashing in a page-based memory system is somewhat simple: the set of memory pages a process needs for its execution at a given moment is called its working set [9].

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For AT&T and Comcast, the situation is somewhat simpler.

The New York Times

The biosynthetic pathway for the pyrimidine nucleotides is somewhat simpler than that for the purine nucleotides.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although bacterial photosynthesis is somewhat simpler than that carried on by plants, the scientists' work significantly increased the understanding of the mechanisms of photosynthesis in general.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The site's design is somewhat simpler than Amazon's, dominated, when I visited, by a small number of shopping categories — household essentials, gadgets, and the like — as well as the color purple.

The New Yorker

More generally, markdown is somewhat simpler to use but also somewhat less powerful.

Duke University

Studies based on these two types of technology have generally shown that the aerosol composition is somewhat simpler than that found in cigarette smoke [6,11,12].

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a concept, system, or process, use "is somewhat simple" to acknowledge its accessibility while also hinting at potential underlying nuances that may require further exploration.

Common error

Avoid using "is somewhat simple" when the subject is actually complex or requires significant expertise. This can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is somewhat simple" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun by indicating that it possesses a degree of simplicity, but not to an extreme extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is somewhat simple" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase that describes something as moderately uncomplicated. Ludwig's analysis of real-world examples indicates it's used to convey accessibility without implying a total lack of complexity. It finds application across News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, and it maintains a neutral tone, suitable for various writing styles. While not overly frequent, its judicious use can add nuance when discussing concepts or processes that aren't entirely basic. It is important not to overuse the phrase when talking about complex subjects as it will come across as misleading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is moderately uncomplicated

Replaces "simple" with "uncomplicated" and "somewhat" with "moderately", emphasizing a lack of complexity to a degree.

is reasonably straightforward

Substitutes "simple" with "straightforward" and "somewhat" with "reasonably", focusing on directness and ease of understanding.

is fairly basic

Replaces "somewhat simple" with "fairly basic", suggesting a rudimentary level of complexity.

is marginally elementary

Uses "elementary" to indicate a foundational level and "marginally" to express a slightly different degree of simplicity.

is kind of easy

Employs a more informal tone, using "kind of" instead of "somewhat" and "easy" instead of "simple".

is relatively undemanding

Focuses on the lack of effort or skill required, differing slightly from a focus on structural simplicity.

is not very complex

Expresses the idea by negating complexity rather than affirming simplicity.

is slightly less intricate

Highlights a reduction in intricacy or detail rather than a state of pure simplicity.

is comparatively minimal

Suggests a reduced number of elements or features rather than overall simplicity.

is superficially unchallenging

Implies that something appears simple at first glance but might have hidden complexities.

FAQs

How can I use "is somewhat simple" in a sentence?

You can use "is somewhat simple" to describe something that is not very complicated, but not completely basic either. For example, "The explanation is somewhat simple, but it requires careful attention to detail".

What are some alternatives to "is somewhat simple"?

Alternatives include "is fairly straightforward", "is relatively easy", or "is moderately uncomplicated", depending on the context.

Is "is somewhat simple" formal or informal?

"Is somewhat simple" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal writing, consider alternatives like "is moderately uncomplicated".

What's the difference between "is somewhat simple" and "is very simple"?

"Is somewhat simple" suggests a moderate level of simplicity, acknowledging that there may be some complexities involved. "Is very simple", on the other hand, implies a complete lack of complexity.