it was pretty clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was pretty clear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was obvious or easily understood in a particular context. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it was pretty clear that the team had made a mistake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was pretty clear.

The New York Times - Sports

It was pretty clear back then, too.

The New York Times

It was pretty clear on the replay".

The New York Times - Sports

DF: It was pretty clear.

The Guardian - Film

We believed it was pretty clear".

The Guardian

And so it was pretty clear to me.

The New Yorker

It was pretty clear what he was saying," she said.

The Guardian

"By Friday, it was pretty clear we were right".

Independent

"It was pretty clear what people thought of me".

The New York Times - Sports

It was pretty clear that I was a funny guy.

The New York Times - Arts

It was pretty clear he was taking shots".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was pretty clear" to convey a sense of obviousness or easy understanding without being overly assertive. It works well in narrative or explanatory contexts where you want to highlight a conclusion that's easily reached.

Common error

Avoid using "it was pretty clear" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive and diminish its impact. Vary your language by using synonyms or alternative expressions to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was pretty clear" functions as an assessment or conclusion, indicating that something was easily understood or apparent. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse sources confirming its common use in conveying obviousness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was pretty clear" serves as a versatile tool for conveying that something was easily understood or obvious. According to Ludwig, it's a grammatically sound phrase widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While neutral in tone, its frequency suggests it's a common way to highlight shared understandings. Remember, while Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability, varying your language with synonyms can enhance the flow and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was quite obvious

Replaces "pretty clear" with "quite obvious", emphasizing the easiness to notice or understand something.

it was fairly obvious

Uses "fairly obvious" instead of "pretty clear", suggesting a slightly lesser degree of certainty or evidence.

it was readily apparent

Replaces "pretty clear" with "readily apparent", indicating that something is easily seen or understood.

it was abundantly clear

Uses "abundantly clear" instead of "pretty clear", intensifying the obviousness of a situation or fact.

it was distinctly evident

Replaces "pretty clear" with "distinctly evident", suggesting that something is undeniably apparent.

it was plainly visible

Uses "plainly visible" instead of "pretty clear", emphasizing that something is easily seen or detected.

it was easily discernible

Replaces "pretty clear" with "easily discernible", indicating that something can be easily distinguished or recognized.

it was quite evident

Uses "quite evident" instead of "pretty clear", suggesting that something is unmistakably apparent.

it was rather obvious

Replaces "pretty clear" with "rather obvious", suggesting a moderate degree of obviousness.

it was crystal clear

Uses "crystal clear" instead of "pretty clear", which intensifies the idea that something is very easy to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "it was pretty clear" in a sentence?

You can use "it was pretty clear" to indicate that something was easily understood or obvious. For example, "After reviewing the evidence, "it was pretty clear" that the team had made a mistake."

What are some alternatives to "it was pretty clear"?

You can use alternatives like "it was quite obvious", "it was fairly obvious", or "it was readily apparent" depending on the context.

Is "it was pretty clear" formal or informal?

"It was pretty clear" is generally considered to be neutral in formality. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal writing might benefit from phrases like "it was readily apparent" or "it was distinctly evident".

What is the difference between "it was pretty clear" and "it was crystal clear"?

"It was pretty clear" suggests something was easily understood, while "it was crystal clear" emphasizes that something was exceptionally easy to understand, implying a higher degree of certainty and lack of ambiguity.