manifestly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "manifestly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize something that is obvious, clear, or easy to see. For example, "It was manifestly clear that everyone was enjoying the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not only has Alessandro Nencini, the presiding judge of the Florence appeals court, apparently resorted to the same tortured logic as his predecessors; he has also stated things as fact that are manifestly and provably wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Strasbourg court unanimously dismissed his claim as inadmissible, describing it as "manifestly ill-founded".

The Guardian

A three-judge panel, headed by Lord Justice Hughes, was unable to say his sentence was "arguably either manifestly excessive or wrong in principle".

The Guardian

It's like Dorothy says: "If you were really great and powerful, you'd keep your promises!" The awkward problem with Lib Dem manifestos, given recent experience, is that they are manifestly flawed.

The Guardian

This claim has not been recognised by any other country and is manifestly illegal.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, the possibility that Mr Juncker might now offer the financial services job to the new British commission nominee, Jonathan Hill, is variously seen as an olive branch, which it manifestly would be, or a dastardly Brussels power grab, which it isn't.

The Guardian - Opinion

David O'Byrne from the United Voice union said: "We've got to remember they were told to provide recommendations within the current funding envelope, which people acknowledge is manifestly not enough to resolve the challenge".

The Guardian

An exception would be made if the national court had "manifestly erred" or if the case raised a serious question of interpretation.

The Guardian

A former member of the Bank's monetary policy committee – the American Adam Posen – conducts a manifestly undisguised assault on the centralised way in which Sir Mervyn King allegedly runs the Bank, having already on many occasions differed from him on policy.

The Guardian - Business

AMONG the "manifestly silly and occasionally harmful positions" espoused by libertarians, "the idea of spontaneous order might be the silliest and most harmful of all", says Damon Linker in a much-read post at the Week.

The Economist

His rooms were loud, too, with clocks, advising him whether he was making good use of his time or not: meaning whether he was moving Britain another inch or so in what was manifestly the best direction.That direction was socialist.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "manifestly" to add emphasis when describing something that is undeniably clear and evident, lending a sense of authority to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "manifestly" in casual conversations or informal writing, as its formal tone can sound stilted or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "obviously" or "clearly".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "manifestly" is to act as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It serves to emphasize the clarity or obviousness of the statement it modifies, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "manifestly" functions as an adverb to emphasize clarity and obviousness, as affirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and most suitable for formal contexts like news, business, and scientific writing. While alternatives such as "obviously" and "clearly" exist, "manifestly" adds a distinctive sense of authority. To ensure effective communication, avoid overusing it in informal settings. "Manifestly" often indicates something is undeniably clear and evident, thus improving the impact of a sentence. Ludwig provides many examples, highlighting it's a widely used and accepted expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obviously

Indicates something is easily perceived or understood; a direct synonym.

evidently

Suggests something is apparent from the available evidence.

clearly

Emphasizes the ease of understanding something.

plainly

Implies something is straightforward and easy to see.

patently

Highlights that something is undeniably obvious or blatant.

undeniably

Asserts that something cannot be disputed or denied.

unquestionably

Indicates that something is beyond doubt or question.

unmistakably

Suggests something cannot be confused with anything else.

indisputably

Implies that something is not open to argument or dispute.

assuredly

Emphasizes certainty and confidence in the truth of something.

FAQs

How to use "manifestly" in a sentence?

"Manifestly" is an adverb used to emphasize that something is obvious or clear. For example, "The evidence was "manifestly false"." or "The project was "manifestly successful"".

What can I say instead of "manifestly"?

You can use alternatives like "obviously", "clearly", or "evidently" depending on the context.

Is "manifestly" a formal word?

Yes, "manifestly" is considered a formal word. It is best suited for academic, professional, or journalistic writing where a tone of authority and precision is desired. In casual conversation, it may sound overly formal.

What is the difference between "manifestly" and "apparently"?

"Manifestly" implies something is undeniably clear and evident, whereas "apparently" suggests something seems to be true based on the information available, but there might be some uncertainty.