it quite plain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it quite plain" is not correct in standard written English.
You might be trying to say "make it quite plain," which is used to indicate that something should be made clear or obvious. Example: "I want to make it quite plain that we will not tolerate any form of discrimination in our workplace."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"He makes it quite plain that he views older faculty members as an encumbrance," said Richard C. Hatch, 63, a chemistry professor who has been on the faculty since 1962.

The New York Times

My committee made it quite plain that she appeared to have suffered no real consequence of the really quite severe criticism that she had been subjected to by Pollard".

The Guardian

"I can understand a mind set which regards a 'non-executive chairman' as sailing above the battle, not concerned with the detailed day to day realities … Can I make it quite plain that I do not regard myself as that kind of a chairman".

The Guardian - Business

I've made it quite plain that I've not conveyed full information to the media, for which I apologise.

Huffington Post

We also, though, did more important things than that, in that we made it quite plain that the whole time spent either driving or resting must be capable of being monitored.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

IT IS quite plain what has gone wrong.

The Economist

She understood - it was quite plain to her - that she was meant to be ruled, not to rule.

The Guardian - Books

In this film it is quite plain: Ryota should loosen up, and easy-going, goofy Yudai is the life-affirming good guy.

The Guardian - Film

It is quite plain that Herr Hitler could not admit defeat in his air attack on Great Britain without sustaining more serious injury.

The Guardian

"I concede that the cable couldn't be found," Shearn said generously, "because it appears quite plain that such a cablegram was never sent".

The New Yorker

"This is definitely an attempt at censorship, and it's quite plain to see that this regulation is not in the interests of anyone but the government," said Ravi Philemon, a blogger.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, ensure your sentence structure is grammatically sound. Instead of using the phrase "it quite plain", opt for phrases like "make it clear" or "it is obvious".

Common error

A common mistake is omitting necessary verbs like "is" or "make" when trying to express clarity. Always use a complete sentence structure to maintain grammatical correctness and prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it quite plain" functions as an incomplete statement attempting to express clarity or obviousness. Ludwig AI points out that it lacks a necessary verb, rendering it grammatically incorrect. Proper alternatives would include a verb to complete the thought.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it quite plain" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates this is due to the absence of a necessary verb. While examples can be found in various sources, these instances do not represent proper usage. To express the intended meaning of clarity or obviousness, it's recommended to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "it is quite plain", "make it clear", or "it is obvious". Correcting the sentence structure ensures effective and clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it quite clear

Replaces "plain" with "clear" and adds "make" to correct the sentence structure, emphasizing clarity.

state it very clearly

Uses "clearly" instead of "plain" and adds "state" to improve grammatical correctness, highlighting precision.

make that perfectly clear

Emphasizes the point with "perfectly" and ensures grammatical correctness by including "make".

make it perfectly obvious

Replaces "plain" with "obvious" for emphasis and maintains correct sentence structure with "make".

it is perfectly clear

Transforms the phrase into a grammatically correct statement using "clear" to convey understanding.

it is patently obvious

Uses "patently obvious" as a more formal and emphatic substitute for "plain".

that's crystal clear

Employs a more idiomatic and straightforward expression to indicate complete clarity.

it's abundantly clear

Replaces "quite plain" with "abundantly clear" for stronger emphasis on obviousness.

the situation is clear

Presents a general statement of clarity about a situation rather than a specific point.

let's be absolutely clear

Transforms the phrase into an imperative, urging a discussion to be very straightforward.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the words "plain" and "clear" to express understanding?

Instead of saying "it quite plain", use phrases like "it is quite clear" or "make it plain". These alternatives provide proper grammatical structure while effectively conveying clarity.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "it quite plain" that sound more natural?

More natural sounding alternatives include "it is obvious", "it is clear", or "that is evident". These options offer grammatically sound and commonly used ways to express understanding.

Which is the correct way to phrase a sentence: "it quite plain" or "it is quite plain"?

The correct way to phrase the sentence is "it is quite plain". The inclusion of the verb "is" makes the sentence grammatically complete and clear.

When should I use "make it plain" versus other similar phrases?

"Make it plain" is best used when you are instructing someone to clarify something. Alternatives like "make it clear" or "state it plainly" serve similar functions, emphasizing the need for clarity.