patently

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "patently" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb meaning obviously and clearly. An example sentence would be "It was patently clear that she did not want to be there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

See articleGetting patently absurdNTP and Research in Motion continued the war of words in their patent dispute, which threatens to shut BlackBerry services in the United States.

The Economist

As ever, no flipping-out BTL and no undue hostility to those patently talking crêpe.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But he says Slipper's claims concerning Ashby and the legal fees are patently untrue.

The Guardian

We are promised yet more years of austerity by a chancellor whose "plan" to eliminate the deficit has so far patently failed.

The Guardian - Business

While there is a degree of truth in this in certain cases, other players are having to be deployed out of position – Vurnon Anita at left-back, for instance – while some clearly try hard but are patently not good enough.

The Guardian - Sport

The column, which patently wasn't fact checked, started with an attack on actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who will be one of the speakers at the UN Climate Leaders Summit next week.

The Guardian

He added: "The suggestion that the case for dealing with fiscal deficits and debt rests on one paper is patently absurd.

The Guardian

"In addition, comments that have been made on access to the English market are patently absurd.

The Guardian

For most of the noughties, the majority of British politicians, economists and voters were just as gullible as that viewing couple: we accepted as real and glorious what was patently fake and plastic.

The Guardian - Opinion

Patently untrue.

The Guardian - Sport

The chancellor was triumphant.That patently owes as much to crafty politics as to economics, and Mr Osborne showed plenty more in his speech.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "patently" to emphasize that something is not just obvious, but undeniably and demonstrably so. It's stronger than simply saying 'obviously'.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "patently" in very informal or casual settings might sound overly formal or pretentious. Consider using "obviously" or "clearly" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "patently" functions to intensify the assertion that something is obvious or undeniable. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to emphasize the clarity and lack of ambiguity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the term is correct to use. Ludwig shows examples from various sources that use "patently" to reinforce the obviousness of a statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "patently" is an adverb that means obviously or clearly. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. It's particularly common in formal writing, such as news reports and business communications, where it serves to emphasize the undeniable nature of a statement. While "patently" is appropriate for formal contexts, remember that it may sound out of place in informal conversation; consider "obviously" or "clearly" as alternatives there. Ludwig's examples show that authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian frequently employ "patently" to strengthen their arguments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obviously

A more general term for something easily perceived.

evidently

Indicates that something is clear from the available evidence.

clearly

Emphasizes the ease of understanding.

plainly

Suggests simplicity and lack of ambiguity.

manifestly

A more formal synonym for obviously.

unquestionably

Highlights the certainty of something.

indisputably

Something that cannot be argued against.

undeniably

Emphasizes the impossibility of denying something.

unmistakably

Something that cannot be mistaken for anything else.

palpably

Something that is easily perceived or felt.

FAQs

How to use "patently" in a sentence?

Use "patently" as an adverb to emphasize that something is obviously and undeniably true. For example, "It was "patently obvious" that he was lying."

What can I say instead of "patently"?

You can use alternatives like "obviously", "evidently", or "clearly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "patently obvious" or "obviously patently"?

"Patently obvious" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Obviously patently" is redundant, as both words convey a similar meaning.

What's the difference between "patently" and "apparently"?

"Patently" implies that something is undeniably clear and obvious, while "apparently" suggests that something seems to be true based on the available information, but it may not be definitively proven. "Patently" indicates more certainty than "apparently".