opaque together

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "opaque together" is not a standard or commonly used expression in written English.
It may be used in a specific context to describe something that is unclear or difficult to understand when combined or viewed collectively. Example: "The instructions were opaque together, making it hard for the team to grasp the overall objective."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The opaque state lobby registers, together with the Federal register, are littered with former government staffers, high ranking political advisors and former politicians whose experience is now being put to good use by the resources and energy majors.

The Guardian

In 2006, after the previous crisis, a hasty and "opaque" agreement was cobbled together, offering little clarity over who was responsible for this cost, argues Andrew Neff, an energy expert at IHS Global Insight in Ankara.

Forbes

The opaque austerity program put together by the Troika (ECB, European Commission and the International Monetary Fund) is targeting the low hanging fruit: reducing pension and salaries, and creating desperation.

Huffington Post

These results are in agreement with previous analyses using non-opaque meningococci or gonococci together with soluble CEACAM1 receptor domains [35].

Plosone

The way in which his affair with the young actress has divided them and brought them together may be opaque to the reader who skims rapidly through the text.

The New Yorker

Listen to tHe VICE Gaming Podcast's Horror Special.

Vice

The deep-set eyes in his handsome face are weirdly close together and their expression strangely opaque, as though all he sees are dead people.

The New York Times

The dreamy manner in which the film unfolds, with gliding props that suggest one long sleepwalk, fuses all of these impressions together while also rendering them opaque.

The New York Times

Tetraploid strains (Supporting Information, Table S1) were constructed by mating opaque diploid cells of opposite mating types together and subsequently selected for mating products by plating on double selective media after 48 hr on mating media.

Genetics

But, when it became clear that a second bailout would take much longer to put together, the dispute ended with an opaque declaration from the ministers and with no details about the potential scope of the new rescue.

The New York Times

But when it became clear that a second bailout would take much longer to put together, that dispute ended with an opaque declaration from the finance ministers containing no details about the size and shape of the new loan package.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, avoid using the phrase "opaque together" as it is not a standard expression. Instead, opt for more common and readily understood alternatives such as "unclear when combined" or "ambiguous as a whole."

Common error

Avoid assuming that combining two words creates a valid phrase. Always verify that your phrase aligns with standard grammatical conventions and is easily understood by your intended audience.

Linguistic Context

Opaque functions as an adjective describing something that is not transparent or is difficult to understand. The addition of "together" in the phrase "opaque together" is non-idiomatic and doesn't add a clear, recognized grammatical function. Ludwig AI suggests that this phrase is not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "opaque together" is not a standard or commonly recognized expression in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's not something typically encountered in writing. While both "opaque" and "together" are valid words, their combination doesn't form an idiomatic or grammatically sound phrase. If you intend to convey that multiple elements create a lack of clarity when combined, consider alternatives like "unclear when combined" or "ambiguous as a whole". Using these established phrases will ensure your message is readily understood. Since the phrase's grammatical status is considered incorrect and its frequency is missing, it's best to avoid it in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unclear when combined

Focuses on the resulting lack of clarity when multiple elements are considered as a unit, rather than inherent opacity.

ambiguous as a whole

Highlights the overall uncertainty or multiple interpretations arising from a complex situation.

difficult to understand collectively

Emphasizes the challenge in grasping the meaning when elements are viewed together.

obscured in combination

Suggests that the act of combining makes the individual components less distinct and harder to discern.

blurred and indistinct

Highlights the merging of elements to create a fuzzy, ill-defined impression.

confusing when viewed together

Focuses on the mental state of perplexity when considering the items simultaneously.

lacking overall transparency

Emphasizes the absence of openness and ease of comprehension in the overall picture.

collectively unintelligible

Stresses the complete lack of meaning when the items are considered as a group.

vague in their totality

Highlights the imprecision and lack of specific details in the overall assessment.

indistinct when merged

Implies that the fusion of elements makes it hard to differentiate individual components.

FAQs

How can I describe something that is unclear when its parts are combined?

Instead of "opaque together", consider using phrases like "unclear when combined", "ambiguous as a whole", or "difficult to understand collectively" depending on the context.

Is "opaque together" grammatically correct?

While "opaque" is a valid adjective and "together" is a valid adverb, "opaque together" is not a recognized or commonly used phrase in standard English.

What does it mean if something is described as "opaque"?

"Opaque" generally means not transparent or difficult to see through. Figuratively, it can mean difficult to understand or unclear. See also: "obscure", "unclear".

What are some synonyms for "opaque" when referring to something difficult to understand?

Synonyms for "opaque" in this context include "incomprehensible", "unintelligible", ""obscure"", and "vague".