obvious and simple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obvious and simple" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is clear and easy to understand or do. Example: "The solution to the problem was obvious and simple, making it easy for everyone to grasp."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Outlawing pop-up billing, he agrees, seems an "obvious and simple solution".

The Guardian - Tech

But, what seems obvious and simple can be more complex when investigated more deeply.

The Guardian

There's a fairly obvious and simple one, of course: don't fly.

The Guardian - Travel

However the most obvious and simple solution may be the most significant.

Independent

Food preservation, using in situ bacteriocin production is the most obvious and simple.

Journal of Biotechnology

"There's angst, there's anger, there's frustration, but what there is not is obvious and simple solutions," Ms. Krueger said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Service providers need to do more to make these mechanisms more obvious and simpler to use; they also need to introduce more transparency when it comes to informing users how their reports will be dealt with as well as considering feedback to help increase confidence.

The Guardian

Several algebraic constructions have obvious definitions and simple properties for BAs: subalgebras, homomorphisms, isomorphisms, and direct products (even of infinitely many algebras).

SEP

Making a musical out of Kuti's life, like all genius ideas, seems so obvious and so simple – once somebody else has thought of it.

The Guardian

It seems like an obvious and deceptively simple concept, yet according to the author, only one in six people spontaneously thinks this way when asked what accomplishment is foremost in his or her mind.

The New York Times - Science

ALISTAIR: One of the most obvious and most simple things I've come across over the years is just this: People tend to talk to themselves, or to people who already share their same ideas.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "obvious and simple", ensure that the context genuinely reflects ease of understanding and straightforwardness. Overusing it can diminish its impact, so reserve it for situations where clarity is particularly noteworthy.

Common error

Avoid using "obvious and simple" to describe concepts that are, in reality, complex or nuanced. This can come across as condescending or dismissive, undermining your credibility with your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obvious and simple" functions primarily as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe its characteristics. It emphasizes that something is both easy to understand and lacking in complexity, enhancing clarity. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "obvious and simple" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe concepts that are easily understood and lack complexity. Ludwig AI confirms that it is widely applicable across different contexts, although it is most frequently found in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely reflects ease of understanding to avoid undermining your credibility. Consider alternative phrases like "clear and straightforward" or "plain and uncomplicated" for nuanced situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plain and straightforward

Replaces "obvious" with "plain" and "simple" with "straightforward", maintaining a similar level of clarity but with slightly different connotations.

clear and uncomplicated

Emphasizes the lack of complexity, using "clear" instead of "obvious" and "uncomplicated" instead of "simple".

evident and basic

Substitutes "obvious" with "evident", highlighting the easily seen nature, and "simple" with "basic", emphasizing fundamental nature.

manifest and elementary

Replaces "obvious" with "manifest", indicating a clear display, and "simple" with "elementary", stressing the foundational aspect.

patent and uncomplicated

Uses "patent" instead of "obvious" to emphasize the easily discernible quality, and "uncomplicated" to replace "simple", keeping the meaning closely aligned.

self-evident and easy

Highlights the inherent clarity with "self-evident" and the lack of difficulty with "easy".

straightforward and uncomplicated

Combines "straightforward" to replace "obvious" and "uncomplicated" to replace "simple", emphasizing ease and clarity.

unmistakable and basic

Focuses on the clarity and lack of ambiguity with "unmistakable", paired with the fundamental nature implied by "basic".

readily apparent and undemanding

Stresses the ease of perception with "readily apparent" and the lack of difficulty with "undemanding".

easily understood and implemented

Shifts the focus to understanding and action, replacing "obvious" with "easily understood" and "simple" with "implemented".

FAQs

How can I use "obvious and simple" in a sentence?

You can use "obvious and simple" to describe solutions, ideas, or methods that are easily understood and straightforward. For instance, "The solution to the problem was "obvious and simple", making it easy to implement".

What are some alternatives to saying "obvious and simple"?

Instead of "obvious and simple", you could use phrases like "clear and straightforward", "plain and uncomplicated", or "evident and basic" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use both "obvious" and "simple" together?

While both words share semantic overlap, using them together can emphasize both the ease of understanding (obvious) and the lack of complexity (simple). The redundancy is slight and often acceptable for added emphasis.

Can "obvious and simple" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "obvious and simple" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider stronger alternatives like "self-evident and easily implemented" if greater precision is needed.