it is not evident why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is not evident why" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing uncertainty or lack of clarity regarding a reason or explanation for something. Example: "In this case, it is not evident why the results differ from our expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

After 15... f5, it is not evident why Zhang Zhong did not play 16 ef gf 17 O-O Rh8 18 Qe1 e5 19 Bde Kd7 20 de fe 21 f4 e4 21 g4.

The New York Times

However, as with the gammatone filters, it is not evident why a different spacing should be preferred.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

On the face of it, it is not evident why this should be so, any more than having a bad temper requires the concept of a bad temper.

SEP

end{aligned} (2.49)A priori, it is not evident why convex orders do exist, but this result gives them all: [72] There is a bijective correspondence between the set of convex orders in (varDelta _) and the set of reduced decompositions of (omega _0).

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Although these lineages are prevalent in countries of Central- and West-Asian regions it is not evident why they are specifically predominant in the Delhi region.

Plosone

It is not evident why narwhals display this behavioural tendency of swimming upside-down as they dive.

BMC Ecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Aside from the Magritte reference, for example, it isn't evident why the actors are garbed as they are, why Miranda and Caliban (Dan Daily) are costumed like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, or why Ferdinand carries a pearl-handled six-shooter.

The New York Times

It's not evident why Jonathan has changed his mind, but those who live in central and northern Nigeria and who have borne the brunt of Boko Haram's attacks — including people named to the amnesty committee — wonder if this last-ditch effort will be enough.

The New Yorker

It's not evident why Jonathan has changed his mind, but those who live in central and northern Nigeria and who have borne the brunt of Boko Haram's attacks—including people named to the amnesty committee wonder if this last-ditch effort will be enough.

The New Yorker

It is not evident as to why this inconsistency occurs: It may be due to differences between quadrupedal and bipedal gait, conditioned through evolution as a manner of masking injury, lost within variability caused by velocity changes and animal growth, altered by habituation to the gait test, or affected by stress associated with limb injury in the rat.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

It is not evident to the author why the reference in the restriction of the cosmetic colorant Beta vulgaris (which has a strong red color) in the INCI list (IV 1) leads to a substance of green color.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "it is not evident why" with stronger or more direct phrases like "the reason remains unclear" to enhance impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "it is not evident why" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for more conversational alternatives like "I don't get why" or "it's not clear to me why" to better suit the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not evident why" functions as an introductory clause indicating a lack of understanding or a missing explanation. It sets up a statement that something is not immediately obvious or easily explainable. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is not evident why" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a lack of immediate clarity or obviousness regarding a particular reason or explanation. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for formal and neutral contexts like science, news, and encyclopedic writing. While less common in informal settings, alternative phrases such as "it is unclear why" or "it is not obvious why" can be used to convey a similar meaning. Remember to ensure contextual clarity when using this phrase, clearly establishing what "it" refers to, and consider stronger phrases for enhanced impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is unclear why

Replaces "evident" with "clear", indicating a lack of clarity.

it is not obvious why

Substitutes "evident" with "obvious", suggesting something isn't readily apparent.

the reason is not apparent

Changes the structure to focus on the "reason" rather than the lack of evidence.

it is not readily apparent why

Adds "readily" to emphasize the immediate lack of obviousness.

it remains unexplained why

Shifts the focus to the lack of explanation.

the explanation is not evident

Rephrases to highlight the absence of a clear explanation.

it is hard to see why

Uses "hard to see" to convey difficulty in understanding the reason.

the rationale is unclear

Replaces "evident why" with "rationale is unclear", focusing on the reasoning behind something.

it's difficult to understand why

Uses a more informal tone with "it's difficult" to express the lack of understanding.

the motives are obscure

Focuses on the hidden or unclear "motives" behind an action or situation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it is not evident why" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "the rationale is unclear", "the explanation remains elusive", or "the underlying reason is not readily apparent".

What are some simpler alternatives to "it is not evident why"?

You can use alternatives like "it is unclear why", "it is not obvious why", or "I don't understand why" for a more straightforward expression.

Is "it is not evident why" the same as "it is not clear why"?

While similar, "evident" suggests a slightly stronger sense of something being readily and obviously perceived, while "clear" simply implies a lack of ambiguity. In most contexts, they are interchangeable, like in "it is unclear why".

When is it appropriate to use "it is not evident why"?

Use "it is not evident why" when you want to express that the reason for something is not easily understood or immediately obvious, particularly in formal writing or when analyzing a situation.