obviously not

USAGE SUMMARY

"obviously not" is correct and can be used in written English.
It's usually used to emphasize a negative statement or opinion. For example, "I'm excited about the idea of going on vacation, but unfortunately, I can't afford it right now - obviously not."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Obviously not.

Harvard University

It's obviously not that.

Yale University

"Obviously not," he said.

The New York Times

Obviously not very good.

The New York Times - Sports

But obviously not.

The New Yorker

That's obviously not great.

Independent

It's obviously not likely.

The New York Times

"I'm obviously not happy.

The New York Times - Sports

Obviously not good news.

The New York Times

A: Obviously not.

The New York Times

I'm obviously not alone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obviously not" to express a clear and often self-evident negation, but be mindful of your audience. Overuse can come across as dismissive or condescending.

Common error

Avoid using "obviously not" in highly formal or academic writing where a more nuanced or detailed explanation is expected. In such cases, opt for phrases like 'demonstrably false' or 'not supported by evidence'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obviously not" functions as an emphatic negative adverbial phrase. It serves to strongly negate a preceding statement or question, indicating that the answer is clearly and undeniably 'no'. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obviously not" is a frequently used adverbial phrase that expresses a strong negation or disagreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and versatile, appearing predominantly in news and media, and academic contexts. While effective for conveying a clear 'no', it's important to consider the context and audience, avoiding overuse in highly formal settings where more nuanced language might be more appropriate. Alternatives such as "definitely not" or "certainly not" can provide similar emphasis with slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely not

Conveys an emphatic refusal or denial, stronger than 'definitely not'.

definitely not

Expresses a strong negation, leaving no room for doubt.

certainly not

Similar to 'definitely not', but can also express a polite disagreement.

plainly not

Emphasizes the lack of ambiguity; something is clearly untrue or incorrect.

patently not

Highlights that something is obviously untrue or false.

distinctly not

Highlights that something is clearly separate or different, negating any association.

assuredly not

Indicates a confident and certain negation.

demonstrably not

Indicates that something cannot be proven or shown to be true.

naturally not

Suggests that something is not the expected or logical outcome.

evidently not

Indicates that something is not apparent or obvious from the available information.

FAQs

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

Use "obviously not" to emphasize a negative statement or to express disagreement with something. For instance, 'Do you think this plan will work? Obviously not.'

What are some alternatives to "obviously not"?

You can use alternatives like "definitely not", "certainly not", or "absolutely not" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "obviously not" in formal writing?

While "obviously not" is grammatically correct, it may come across as too informal or dismissive in certain formal contexts. Consider using more nuanced alternatives such as 'clearly not' or 'demonstrably false' instead.

What's the difference between "obviously not" and "apparently not"?

"Obviously not" implies that something is clearly untrue or incorrect, while "apparently not" suggests that something is not as it seems or is contrary to what was previously believed.