overly apparent

USAGE SUMMARY

"overly apparent" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means something that is extremely obvious or easily noticed. It can be used in a sentence to emphasize that something is very obvious or clear. Example: "The tension between the two coworkers was overly apparent in the meeting, as they avoided eye contact and spoke in clipped tones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Still, a fine puzzler, even if its influences are overly apparent.

The Guardian - Tech

It's simple but really effective, and much more organic than the overly apparent percentage completion markers that hang over each segment of your mission wheel.

The Guardian - Tech

Less successful wines showed their weight, and even with the beautiful flavors of the wines we found too many that were marred by overly apparent oak flavors.

The New York Times - Food

Ms. Garland and Mr. Aronson are always conscious of making sure that their work is not overly apparent, but that future conservators will have no trouble distinguishing it from the original.

The New York Times - Arts

YSL's newly launched Teint Radiance foundation helps skin to glow rather than shine, and be sure to hold off on blusher: your base needs to be light and not overly apparent.

Independent

As apparent as his talent is, Mr. Peck is still navigating his choreographic voice; at the moment his adoration of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Alexei Ratmansky is overly apparent.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In the late 1990s, for instance, the Asian financial crisis appeared to confirm the virtues of London and New York then the global financial crisis happened.Anyone who is overly impressed with the apparent resilience of China today would do well to read a new book by two bankers who have worked there for many years, Carl Walter and Fraser Howie.

The Economist

However, he is not overly concerned by his apparent lack of success on the road so far in 2013.

BBC

I listed accolades that, it should have been immediately apparent, weren't overly impressive.

Science Magazine

But even in retirement he continued to roil church waters, warning of an overly "management" style at Lambeth Palace, an apparent rebuke of his more buttoned-up successor George Carey.

The New York Times

Add to that the expenses of having three kids in college and it quickly became apparent that we were overly optimistic in our budget estimates".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overly apparent", consider whether a more precise adjective might better convey your meaning. For example, instead of "the influence was overly apparent", you could say "the influence was blatant" or "the influence was unmistakable" depending on the intended nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "overly apparent" when you simply mean "obvious". The "overly" adds a layer of excessiveness. Ensure that the context truly warrants emphasizing that something is excessively or inappropriately obvious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly apparent" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun. It describes something that is not just noticeable or evident, but excessively so. This often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the obviousness is undesirable or inappropriate. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts to describe something excessively noticeable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly apparent" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that is excessively obvious, often with a negative connotation. According to Ludwig, it functions as an adverb-adjective combination and is most frequently found in News & Media contexts. While the phrase is acceptable, Ludwig AI recommends considering more precise alternatives to better convey the intended meaning. When using "overly apparent", ensure that the context warrants the emphasis on excessiveness and avoid redundant phrasing. Overall, this analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively use "overly apparent" in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overtly obvious

Similar, but stresses the explicit and unconcealed nature of the obviousness.

undeniably obvious

Stresses the impossibility of denying the evident nature of something.

unmistakably clear

Highlights that there is no room for confusion about something.

plainly evident

Highlights the clarity and ease with which something can be seen or understood.

patently clear

Highlights the indisputable clarity of something.

glaringly obvious

Implies an obviousness that is hard to ignore or overlook.

blatantly obvious

Emphasizes the obviousness to the point of being offensive or unsubtle.

transparently obvious

Implies a lack of concealment, making something very easy to see through.

conspicuously visible

Focuses on the prominence and ease of spotting something.

flagrantly obvious

Indicates an obviousness that is shockingly or outrageously clear.

FAQs

How can I use "overly apparent" in a sentence?

You can use "overly apparent" to describe something that is excessively obvious. For example, "The actor's nervousness was "plainly evident" during his first scene".

What's a good substitute for "overly apparent"?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, you could use phrases like "blatantly obvious", "plainly evident", or "unmistakably clear".

Is it redundant to say something is "very overly apparent"?

Yes, using "very" with "overly apparent" is generally redundant. "Overly" already implies a degree of excess, so adding "very" doesn't add significant meaning and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "apparent" and "overly apparent"?

"Apparent" means easily seen or understood. "Overly apparent" means excessively or inappropriately obvious, often implying a negative judgment about the degree of obviousness. For example, if the seams on a garment are "conspicuously visible", you may say its flaws are "overly apparent".