manifestly not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "manifestly not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is clearly or obviously not the case. Example: "The evidence presented in court was manifestly not sufficient to convict the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was manifestly not true.

The New Yorker

East Coast Trains is manifestly not broke.

Independent

But it is manifestly not clandestine data manipulation.

The Guardian

They are tired, gracious, manifestly not cherished by destiny.

The New Yorker

That was "manifestly not the case", added Rutnam.

The Guardian

Both were alcoholics: CW a functioning one, Vivian manifestly not.

The Guardian - Books

"Get to work therapy" is manifestly not therapy at all.

The Guardian

England are manifestly not among them, and there's a World Cup in 2011.

The New York Times - Sports

He was slender, tall, light-skinned, and manifestly not a fisherman.

The New Yorker

Al Qaeda's apparent enthusiasm for Mr. McCain is manifestly not reciprocated.

The New York Times

It largely belonged to western and eastern Europe - it was certainly international but manifestly not global.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your context. While "manifestly not" is acceptable in many situations, alternatives like "clearly not" might be more appropriate for informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "manifestly not" too frequently in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound stilted or pretentious in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "manifestly not" functions as an emphatic negation, strongly asserting that something is not the case. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It serves to emphasize the falsity or inaccuracy of a statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "manifestly not" is a strong and emphatic way to express negation. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While versatile, it is more suitable for neutral to formal settings due to its tone. Alternative phrases like "clearly not" or "obviously not" can be used in more informal situations. Keep in mind that while the phrase is appropriate in many contexts, overusing it in casual conversations may come off as unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearly not

Emphasizes the clarity of the negation; less formal than "manifestly".

obviously not

Highlights the obviousness of the negation; similar in strength to "clearly not".

plainly not

Indicates a straightforward and evident negation; slightly less formal.

evidently not

Stresses that the negation is apparent from the evidence; more formal.

demonstrably not

Implies the negation can be proven; suitable for formal arguments.

patently not

Suggests the negation is undeniable; similar in formality to "manifestly".

visibly not

Focuses on the visual evidence of the negation; less formal.

ostensibly not

Indicates that something appears not to be the case, possibly contrasting with reality.

distinctly not

Emphasizes the clear difference or separation; slightly less emphatic.

unquestionably not

Indicates there's no room for doubt; expresses strong conviction.

FAQs

What does "manifestly not" mean?

The phrase "manifestly not" means clearly or obviously not. It emphasizes that something is undeniably false or incorrect.

How can I use "manifestly not" in a sentence?

You can use "manifestly not" to strongly negate a statement, such as: "The evidence presented was "clearly not" sufficient to convict the defendant."

What are some alternatives to "manifestly not"?

Alternatives to "manifestly not" include "clearly not", "obviously not", and "plainly not". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "manifestly not" formal or informal?

"Manifestly not" is considered more formal. For informal contexts, "clearly not" or "obviously not" are generally more appropriate.