plainly discernible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plainly discernible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is clearly visible or easily understood. Example: "The differences between the two proposals are plainly discernible upon close examination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The difficulty is plainly discernible, the delicacy less so.

The Guardian - Books

First embraced a couple of years ago by fashion's early adopters — young urbanites who flaunted maxidresses and flip-flops as an airy alternative to leggings and jeans — long skirts are now gaining traction as the most plainly discernible trend of spring.

The New York Times

Augustine's influence is plainly discernible in Bonaventure [e.g. Itinerarium Mentis in Deum] and others in the thirteenth century who sought an alternative to the Aristotelianism then gaining currency (e.g. John Peckham and Henry of Ghent).

SEP

The smell of burning human flesh was sickening and almost unendurable, and was plainly discernible for more than a mile along the railroad both east and west".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

And then there are just the plainly insane people who finally snap and go on shooting rampages for no discernible reason at all.

Huffington Post

(Here's the policy, which Adams plainly did not violate, since the NBC executive's email address was already easily discernible on the web — NBC has a firstname.lastname@ system for its email, and it's a corporate address, not a personal one — and was published online over a year ago).

The Guardian - Opinion

But here's my pick: what Adams did was arguably rude, but it plainly did not violate Twitter's actual policy, because Adams' email address was a) corporate and easily discernible from the standard format NBC uses; and b) had been published on the web earlier.

The Guardian - Opinion

Speak plainly.

The New Yorker

Plainly dressed.

Independent

ADDRESS plainly.

The New Yorker

But trends are discernible.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plainly discernible" when you want to emphasize that something is not only visible or noticeable, but also easily understood or recognizable through careful observation. It suggests a clarity that invites closer inspection.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "plainly discernible" can sound overly formal or academic in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "easy to see" or "obvious" to maintain a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plainly discernible" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun or concept. The adverb "plainly" emphasizes the clarity with which the adjective "discernible" (meaning able to be perceived or recognized) applies. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plainly discernible" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to emphasize the clarity with which something can be recognized or understood. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and scientific contexts. While effective, consider simpler alternatives like "clearly evident" or "easily noticeable" for informal settings. Remember that using a phrase like "plainly discernible" is effective only when a concept is indeed clear by careful observation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearly evident

Focuses on the obvious nature of something, similar to plainly discernible, but emphasizes the evidence supporting it.

easily noticeable

Highlights the ease with which something can be observed, differing slightly from "plainly discernible" which suggests a deeper understanding.

readily apparent

Emphasizes the quickness with which something becomes obvious, adding a temporal aspect not explicitly present in "plainly discernible".

unmistakably clear

Stresses the lack of ambiguity, making it impossible to misunderstand, which is a stronger assertion than "plainly discernible".

patently obvious

Indicates something so clear that it is almost foolish to question, adding a tone of certainty not necessarily present in "plainly discernible".

distinctly visible

Focuses solely on the visual aspect, whereas "plainly discernible" can refer to understanding as well as sight.

obviously detectable

Highlights that it is not only clear, but also easy to find or identify.

manifestly evident

Emphasizes the undeniable and conspicuous nature of something, conveying a higher degree of certainty than "plainly discernible".

unquestionably perceivable

Focuses on the capability of being noticed without doubt.

transparently obvious

Implies that something is so clear it can be seen through, suggesting a lack of hidden complexity, which is not necessarily implied by "plainly discernible".

FAQs

How can I use "plainly discernible" in a sentence?

You can use "plainly discernible" to describe something that is easily noticeable or understandable. For example, "The differences between the two options are "plainly discernible" upon close examination."

What can I say instead of "plainly discernible"?

You can use alternatives like "clearly evident", "easily noticeable", or "readily apparent" depending on the context.

Is "plainly discernible" formal or informal?

"Plainly discernible" is generally considered a more formal phrase. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "easy to see" or "obvious" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "plainly discernible" and "obviously discernible"?

While similar, "plainly discernible" suggests that something is clear through careful observation, whereas "obviously discernible" implies that something is immediately and readily apparent without much effort.