it was plain to see

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was plain to see" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is obvious or easily noticeable. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it was plain to see that the team had made significant progress on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Indeed, it was plain to see.

The Guardian

It was plain to see, really.

The New York Times - Sports

He added: "All game I was getting abuse so it was plain to see what was going to happen.

Independent

It was plain to see: security scanners guarded the conference entrances, television crews prowled the corridors looking for interviewees, foreign diplomats sought panellists' opinions at fringe events.

The Economist

Within minutes of crossing the gangway, it was plain to see that the passenger population consisted principally of two groups: senior citizens and their parents.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rupp took silver in the 10,000m behind Farah and it was plain to see the Briton's delight at the American's medal.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"It's plain to see.

Independent

It is plain to see why.

The Guardian - Sport

And it's plain to see.

The New York Times

"It's plain to see there's a ton of slack in the economy," he said.

The New York Times

It's plain to see when he comes across the media.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was plain to see" to clearly indicate when something is easily understood or apparent based on available evidence or context.

Common error

While effective, relying too heavily on "it was plain to see" can make your writing repetitive. Vary your language with alternatives like "it was obvious" or "it was clear" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was plain to see" functions as an idiomatic expression used to emphasize the obviousness or clarity of a situation. It introduces a statement that is easily understood or apparent, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

99%

Science

0.5%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was plain to see" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize that something is obvious or easily understood. As Ludwig AI confirms, it frequently appears in news and media contexts, serving to highlight discernible facts. While versatile, it's advisable to use alternatives to prevent repetitiveness in writing. Phrases like "it was obvious" or "it was clear" can provide similar clarity without redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was obvious

This alternative is more direct and emphasizes the lack of doubt.

it was clear

This option is simple and suggests that something is easily understood.

it was evident

This alternative implies that something is easily noticeable or apparent.

it was apparent

This choice indicates that something is readily visible or understood.

it was unmistakable

This alternative is stronger and suggests that something cannot be confused with anything else.

it was manifest

This alternative is more formal and suggests that something is unmistakably clear.

it was beyond doubt

This option emphasizes that there is no uncertainty about something.

it was palpable

This option emphasizes that something is easily perceived or felt.

it was noticeable

This alternative highlights that something is easily observed.

it was discernible

This choice implies that something is capable of being distinguished or recognized.

FAQs

What does "it was plain to see" mean?

The phrase "it was plain to see" means that something was very obvious or easily understood.

How can I use "it was plain to see" in a sentence?

You can use "it was plain to see" to introduce an observation that is readily apparent. For example, "After the rain stopped, "it was plain to see" that the garden had been revitalized".

What can I say instead of "it was plain to see"?

You can use alternatives like "it was obvious", "it was clear", or "it was evident" depending on the specific context.

Is "it is plain to see" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it is plain to see" is grammatically correct. The past tense, "it was plain to see", simply indicates that the observation occurred in the past.