it was not obvious

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was not obvious" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to express that something was not easily understood or apparent. Example: After carefully examining the evidence, it was not obvious who the real culprit was.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So it was not obvious what to do.

The New York Times

It was not obvious where it would end".

The New York Times

It was not obvious this would be a good thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But at the time, it was not obvious".

The New York Times - Sports

If she wore makeup, it was not obvious.

The Guardian

It was not obvious that the shaft in Hadley was an indispensable element of a mill.

Harvard University

At the same time, it was not obvious that one can generate much colder droplets.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

"And it was not obvious to me right away," Rogers says.

The New Yorker

Only it was not obvious how to make such a film.

The New York Times - Books

Though it was not obvious, Gelashvili's 24... Qh4 was a small mistake.

The New York Times

It was not obvious that they knew the meaning of their manager's signals.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was not obvious" to introduce a point that might seem straightforward in retrospect but wasn't at the time it occurred. This helps to build context and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "it was not obvious" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Try to incorporate a variety of similar expressions, such as "it wasn't clear" or "it wasn't apparent", to add variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was not obvious" functions as an evaluative statement, typically used to introduce a point where the understanding or recognition of something was lacking or delayed. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various narrative and explanatory contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was not obvious" is a versatile expression used to indicate a lack of immediate clarity or understanding. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed across various domains, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While it's a useful tool for providing context and managing expectations, be mindful of overuse and consider employing alternatives like "it wasn't clear" or "it wasn't apparent" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't clear

Uses a simpler word choice, replacing "obvious" with "clear."

it wasn't apparent

Substitutes "obvious" with "apparent", maintaining a similar level of formality.

it wasn't evident

Replaces "obvious" with "evident", indicating something not easily noticed.

it wasn't immediately clear

Adds "immediately" to emphasize the lack of instant understanding.

it wasn't readily apparent

Emphasizes that something was not easily or quickly visible.

the answer wasn't obvious

Slightly changes the sentence structure to focus on the answer itself.

it was far from obvious

Uses "far from" to stress the lack of clarity.

it was not immediately apparent

Inserts "immediately" to underscore a delayed realization.

the implications were not clear

Focuses on the lack of clear implications rather than obviousness.

it escaped notice

Uses a different verb and structure to express that something wasn't noticed.

FAQs

What does "it was not obvious" mean?

The phrase "it was not obvious" means that something was not easily noticed, understood, or recognized at the time.

What can I say instead of "it was not obvious"?

You can use alternatives like "it wasn't clear", "it wasn't apparent", or "it wasn't evident" depending on the context.

How do I use "it was not obvious" in a sentence?

You can use "it was not obvious" to introduce a fact or situation that was not immediately understood or recognized. For example, "It was not obvious at the time, but this decision would have major consequences."

Is "it was not obvious" formal or informal?

"It was not obvious" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.