necessarily crazy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "necessarily crazy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something does not have to be considered irrational or insane in a given context. Example: "Just because he has unconventional ideas doesn't mean he's necessarily crazy; many great thinkers were once seen as outliers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Some people — not necessarily crazy people — would say you're missing out.

The New York Times

This goes to show that, American prejudices notwithstanding, writers for Cahiers du Cinema are not necessarily crazy.

The New York Times

He feels remorse for sending his not necessarily crazy father back to a mental institution, for being a bad and absent father himself, and for attacking his first wife in "something close to rape".

The New York Times - Books

Some of his favorite artists Agnes Martin, Robert Ryman don't translate well to the medium ("their work comes across as too flat"), so, with a heavy heart, he avoids them in favor of "painters that I'm not necessarily crazy about but who look good onscreen".

The New Yorker

And despite the general scorn the internet holds for them, Laycock says, it's important to understand that people claiming the identity aren't necessarily crazy.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This wasn't necessarily a crazy concern.

The New Yorker

None of this is necessarily as crazy as it seems.

The New York Times

In the pilot, Stephen finds out that his father, who left him and his mother and younger brother years ago, was similarly gifted and not necessarily as crazy and deadbeat as he'd been lead to believe and that he's got an uncle, played by the always awesomely creepy Mark Pellegrino, who is the leader of the scary squad hunting down Tomorrow People.

Huffington Post

They were not necessarily selling like crazy when she entered rehab in 2004.

The New York Times

I don't mean necessarily on that crazy, wiped-out, day-glow Top 40 format we have now, but people should've heard a song called "Broken Bones".

Huffington Post

People who go to therapy aren't necessarily rich, weak or crazy, and shouldn't be stereotyped as such.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "necessarily crazy" to express that something isn't automatically or inherently insane, but could be under certain circumstances. It implies a degree of open-mindedness or consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "necessarily crazy" when you mean to say something is definitely crazy. The phrase indicates possibility, not certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "necessarily crazy" functions as an adverbial modifier qualifying the adjective "crazy". It suggests a conditional or potential state of being crazy, rather than an absolute one. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to express that an action or idea might appear irrational but isn't automatically so.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "necessarily crazy" is used to convey that something might appear irrational but isn't automatically or inherently so. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and primarily used in news and media contexts. It serves to moderate judgments, inviting deeper consideration rather than immediate dismissal. When writing, it's important to remember that this phrase suggests possibility, not certainty, differentiating it from alternatives like "certainly crazy". It's a nuanced way to express skepticism or open-mindedness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

really crazy

Substitutes 'necessarily' with 'really', indicating a genuine or heightened sense of craziness.

perhaps crazy

Substitutes 'necessarily' with 'perhaps', suggesting a possibility of being crazy.

not automatically insane

This phrase replaces "necessarily crazy" with a negation and a synonym, focusing on lack of automatic assumption of insanity.

certainly crazy

Replaces 'necessarily' with 'certainly', indicating a higher degree of assurance about the craziness.

not inevitably mad

This alternative substitutes "crazy" with "mad" to highlight the lack of inevitability.

absolutely crazy

Uses 'absolutely' instead of 'necessarily', emphasizing the craziness without doubt.

inherently crazy

Uses 'inherently' instead of 'necessarily', implying that craziness is an intrinsic quality.

obviously crazy

Uses 'obviously' instead of 'necessarily', implying that the craziness is apparent.

completely crazy

Replaces 'necessarily' with 'completely', intensifying the extent of the craziness.

always crazy

Replaces 'necessarily' with 'always', suggesting craziness in every situation.

FAQs

How can "necessarily crazy" be used in a sentence?

You can use "necessarily crazy" to suggest that something might seem irrational but isn't automatically so. For example, "Investing in that startup might seem risky, but it's not "necessarily crazy" if you understand the market."

What's a simple alternative to "necessarily crazy"?

Alternatives include phrases like "not automatically insane", or "not inherently irrational" depending on the context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "not necessarily crazy"?

Yes, "not necessarily crazy" is correct and commonly used. It conveys that something isn't automatically assumed to be insane or irrational.

What's the difference between "necessarily crazy" and "certainly crazy"?

"Necessarily crazy" suggests something might be considered crazy, while "certainly crazy" implies something is undoubtedly crazy. The former expresses possibility, the latter expresses certainty.