obvious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "obvious" is correct and usable in written English.
You may use "obvious" when you want to indicate that something is very easy to see, understand, or recognize. Example sentence: It was obvious that the team had worked extremely hard to achieve the result.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Arts

Tech

Healthcare

Money

Politics

Travel

Lifestyle

Environment

Music

Opinion

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was quite obvious it was my shoes that was an issue".

The Guardian - Film

The answer is not obvious.

The Economist

"If what I have been told is true then it will be obvious to everyone that I find myself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

The Guardian

The perils of crashing are obvious, but being trapped behind a crash when the road is blocked with bodies and bikes is equally perturbing.

The Guardian - Sport

The reason is obvious.

The New York Times

The UN is not the obvious forum for discussing debt restructuring: unlike the International Monetary Fund, it is not a lender of last resort with emergency cash to disburse, and doesn't have a seat around the table when countries have to go to their creditors to ask for help.

The Guardian - Business

By the age of 20, Schiele was being recognised as the heir to Klimt and indeed Klimt's early influence on Schiele's graphic style is very obvious and understandable.

The Guardian - Arts

Related: Boom and dust: uncertain future for the mining town run by Rio Tinto "There were so many emotions and mostly it boiled down to feeling stressed, and the obvious place to come was the practice," Chalmers tells Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

To people within the economics profession, Yellen's qualifications are obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

It seems obvious that the happiness of our citizens is what ultimately matters (though if you believe that the rights of non-human animals are just as important then I might be sympathetic to such a caveat).

The Guardian

This will be of obvious interest to our political leaders who will want to see the proportion coming down.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obvious" to highlight points that are crucial for understanding a larger argument, creating a clear path of reasoning for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "obvious" when introducing complex or nuanced ideas. What seems clear to you may not be to others, leading to confusion or alienation. Instead, provide a brief explanation to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Linguistic Context

The word "obvious" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that is easily perceived, understood, or recognized. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it used to describe reasons, flaws, interests, and more.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

10%

Sport

7%

Less common in

Arts

5%

Tech

4%

Healthcare

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "obvious" is a commonly used term to describe something easily seen, understood, or recognized. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but is also found in formal business, sports, and various other domains. While simple and straightforward, it is crucial to use "obvious" judiciously, ensuring the information is genuinely clear to your audience to avoid sounding condescending. Alternatives such as "evident", "clear", and "apparent" offer nuanced options for expressing similar ideas. In summary, "obvious" is a versatile and valuable word when used thoughtfully and accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evident

This alternative suggests something easily seen or understood, similar to "obvious", but may imply a slightly more formal tone.

clear

This term conveys a sense of unambiguity and ease of understanding, akin to "obvious", but can also refer to physical transparency.

plain

Implies simplicity and lack of complexity, making something easily understandable, like "obvious".

apparent

Suggests something that is easily perceived or understood from the available evidence, similar to "obvious".

manifest

Indicates something that is clearly revealed or displayed, sharing the sense of easy visibility with "obvious".

patent

Implies something that is open and unconcealed, much like "obvious", but can also refer to legal protections.

unmistakable

This term stresses the impossibility of misunderstanding or mistaking something, similar to the clarity of "obvious".

self-evident

Suggests that something is clear without needing further proof or explanation, emphasizing its inherent clarity, similar to "obvious".

easily understood

Rephrases "obvious" by highlighting the ease with which something can be comprehended.

readily apparent

Combines "readily" and "apparent" to emphasize the ease and speed with which something becomes clear, echoing the meaning of "obvious".

FAQs

How can I use "obvious" in a sentence?

You can use "obvious" to describe something easily understood or apparent. For example, "It was "obvious" that she was upset".

What are some alternatives to the word "obvious"?

Some alternatives include "evident", "clear", or "apparent", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "it's obviously" or "it's obvious"?

The correct phrase is "it's "obvious"". "Obviously" is an adverb and modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, not a noun.

What's the difference between "obvious" and "evident"?

"Obvious" refers to something easily perceived or understood, while "evident" suggests that something is clear based on evidence. While similar, "evident" implies a stronger basis in proof.