plain evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plain evidence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is obvious or easily understandable. For example, "The plain evidence showed that the defendant was guilty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

This is plain evidence of ownership.

The Economist

Not least, they addressed the plain evidence of the senses that the cityscape had been impoverished by modernism's abstract, diagrammatic approach to urban design.

The New York Times - Arts

Could it be that they were so desperate to believe that they set aside the plain evidence of their own eyes?

The Guardian - Film

Her enemies say that she is detested by her officials and security people, but there is no plain evidence of this.

The Economist

Hugo Keith QC, counsel to the inquests, said: "What [police] had was a car with a registration code and plain evidence from a witness that one of the members of those cars was holding a gun.

The Guardian

The plain evidence from Tahrir Square is that Islamists make up only a fraction of Egypt's protest movement, albeit an enthusiastic and well-disciplined one, and that they have largely followed events rather than led them.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"What plainer evidence than design could there be?" he asked.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

As the events of Ferguson make plain, the evidence that counts may only be the evidence that people want to see and hear.

The Economist

Recent studies from the Great Hungarian Plain provide evidence of human impact starting as early as in the Neolithic (c. 8200 cal BP).

Quaternary International

The covering or destruction of a rough topography and the creation of a smoother surface is called resurfacing, and plains are evidence of this process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

22 The finding that smokers smoking from a plain pack evidenced more frequent thoughts about and priority for quitting than branded pack smokers is important, since frequency of thoughts about quitting has strong predictive validity in prospective studies for actually making a quit attempt.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plain evidence" when you want to emphasize that the evidence is easily understandable and requires no complex interpretation. It's suitable for conveying a sense of clarity and directness.

Common error

While "plain evidence" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your tone sound simplistic. Consider stronger synonyms like "unequivocal proof" or "conclusive evidence" in academic or professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plain evidence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "plain" modifies the noun "evidence". According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and commonly used. It highlights that the evidence is easily understood or obvious.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plain evidence" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe easily understandable proof or indications. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and utility. While versatile, it's best used when emphasizing clarity and directness, and should be balanced with more formal synonyms in academic or professional contexts. It frequently appears in news and media, making it a valuable tool for conveying straightforward information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clear evidence

Replaces "plain" with "clear", emphasizing the unambiguity of the evidence.

obvious evidence

Substitutes "plain" with "obvious", highlighting the easily perceived nature of the evidence.

evident proof

Changes "evidence" to "proof", strengthening the assertion, and "plain" to "evident", making it directly perceivable.

straightforward proof

Replaces "plain" with "straightforward", suggesting directness and simplicity of the proof.

unambiguous proof

Changes to indicate proof that can only be interpreted in one way.

manifest indication

Replaces both words to convey a formal sense of easily noticeable signs.

unmistakable sign

Emphasizes that the sign is impossible to misunderstand, rather than just being obvious evidence.

patent fact

Uses "patent" to mean obvious and replaces "evidence" with "fact", implying undeniable truth.

readily apparent data

Highlights that data is easily discoverable and perceivable, rather than indirect confirmation.

easily discernible facts

Indicates facts that are easily noticed or understood.

FAQs

How can I use "plain evidence" in a sentence?

You can use "plain evidence" to describe facts that are easily understood and require no complex interpretation. For example, "The "plain evidence" suggested that the defendant was at the scene of the crime."

What are some alternatives to "plain evidence"?

Some alternatives include "clear evidence", "obvious evidence", or "evident proof". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "plain evidence" and "clear evidence"?

While similar, "plain evidence" emphasizes the simplicity and ease of understanding, while "clear evidence" focuses on the lack of ambiguity.

When is it appropriate to use "plain evidence" in writing?

Use "plain evidence" in situations where you want to highlight that something is undeniably obvious based on the available data, making the interpretation straightforward.