more or less clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more or less clear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something may not have been explained in a detailed manner, but enough is known to understand it. For example, "The instructions were more or less clear, so I was able to complete the task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Tusk says everything is more or less clear now.

The Guardian

And on that point we are more or less clear.

The Economist

He has kept himself more or less clear of the art world, so owes it nothing.

The New York Times - Arts

With the Soviet Union everything was more or less clear and predictable.

The Economist

The results from today's Norwegian elections are more or less clear: with some 26.8% of the vote, the Conservative party (Høyre) is poised to head Norway's next coalition government.

The Guardian - Opinion

The author believes that the SSI specialists should do the first step forward (a) recalling "viscous" damping in the structures versus the "material" one and (b) convoluting all the SSI wave effects into the format of "soil springs and dashpots", more or less clear for civil engineers.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Hoentschel's journey into history began in the spring of 1906, when J. P. Morgan, the financier and visionary collector, more or less cleared out Maison Leys's showrooms.

The New York Times - Arts

After some umming and aahing, the denazification committee in Herberger's town more or less cleared him by classifying him as a Mitlaüfer (a follower who joined Nazi organisations but did not actively collaborate) and the German football federation had to admit he was still the best-qualified person for the job.

The Guardian - Sport

That one at least seems to be more or less cleared up: he was born in Burdine (which is Jenkins, sort of) but when he was a very young child his folks moved to Pound.

University of Chicago

But his return to form and the fact his injury has "more or less" cleared up means he will not be heading into 2013 short of self-belief - even if he does allow himself a decent festive break.

BBC

An investigation into the RCMP, who were present throughout the G20 weekend, more or less cleared them of any wrongdoing.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more or less clear" to acknowledge that while a concept is generally understood, there may still be some ambiguity or details that are not fully defined.

Common error

Avoid using "more or less clear" when the subject is definitively clear or entirely ambiguous. This phrase is best suited for situations where there's a moderate level of understanding, not complete certainty or utter confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more or less clear" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the degree of clarity. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase suggests partial understanding, but not full comprehension. The phrase is usable in written English and indicates that something has been explained to a certain extent, but some details remain uncertain.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more or less clear" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate partial understanding or moderate clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for situations where something isn't perfectly defined but is understood well enough. Its usage spans various contexts, but it's particularly prevalent in news, media, and scientific writing. While alternatives like ""somewhat obvious"" and ""largely understood"" exist, choosing the right one depends on the specific shade of meaning you aim to convey. Remember to avoid overstating clarity when using this phrase and be mindful of the context in which you deploy it. It is not suited for situations when utter certainty is present, but it does a pretty good job in contexts when just some degree of clarity is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely understood

Shifts the focus to the extent of understanding rather than the clarity of the information itself.

somewhat obvious

Indicates a slightly stronger degree of clarity than the original phrase.

mostly obvious

Similar to "somewhat obvious" but may imply a greater degree of obviousness.

reasonably certain

Similar to 'fairly certain' but emphasizes a logical basis for the certainty.

relatively straightforward

Emphasizes the simplicity and ease of comprehension.

fairly certain

Focuses on the level of confidence in a statement rather than clarity.

quite apparent

Indicates a high degree of visibility or ease of understanding.

moderately transparent

Focuses on the ease with which something can be seen through or understood.

partially defined

Highlights that only some aspects of something are clear or understood.

vaguely understood

Indicates a low level of certainty or clarity.

FAQs

How can I use "more or less clear" in a sentence?

You can use "more or less clear" to describe situations where something is partially understood or defined, but not entirely. For example, "The instructions were "more or less clear", so I managed to assemble the furniture with some difficulty."

What phrases are similar to "more or less clear"?

Alternatives to "more or less clear" include "somewhat obvious", "largely understood", or "reasonably certain". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "more or less clear"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "more or less clear" is a common idiom used to indicate a moderate level of clarity or understanding.

What's the difference between "more or less clear" and "perfectly clear"?

"More or less clear" implies some ambiguity or lack of complete understanding, while "perfectly clear" indicates that something is entirely understood and without any confusion.