plainly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

"plainly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is easy to understand or is obvious. For example: The instructions were presented plainly enough that even a child could follow them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

I thought I saw it all plainly enough.

The New Yorker

The picture was painted for Rafael Benítez plainly enough.

The Guardian - Sport

Plainly, enough voters took his chill warnings to heart.

The Guardian

Plainly enough, they would have perfectly good refugee claims.

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, it was so absurd that the slaves, with all their ignorance, saw plainly enough it could not succeed".

The New York Times

This was plainly enough to get the better of last night's opponents – and provide the usual sumptuous level of aesthetic pleasure.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"Those words are plainly wide enough to include matters of policy and funding criteria," he said.

The Guardian

Local-government debts might double that proportion, but China plainly has enough fiscal space to recapitalise any bank threatened with insolvency.That space also gives the government room to stimulate growth again, should exports to Europe fall off a cliff.

The Economist

In any event, Mr Gollnisch's implied threat is plainly real enough, as Mr Chirac knows.Hence the new government, formed this week to fill the void between the departure of Mr Jospin and the June elections.

The Economist

That is plainly not enough to fix what remains a massive loophole in the law, and we hope that the European court decides to rule in favour of privacy rather than unchecked state power".

The Guardian

That is plainly not enough to fix what remains a massive loophole in the law, and we hope that the European Court decides to rule in favour of privacy rather than unchecked State power".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "plainly enough", ensure the context provides a clear reference point for what is being understood or communicated; this adds weight to your statement and prevents vagueness.

Common error

Avoid using "plainly enough" excessively in formal or academic writing; overuse can make your tone sound condescending or simplistic. Choose more precise language when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

"Plainly enough" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the degree to which something is clear or obvious. It suggests that something is sufficiently understandable, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plainly enough" is an adverbial phrase used to indicate sufficient clarity or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. While commonly found in news and media, its usage in formal academic writing should be approached with caution. Alternatives such as "clearly enough" or "sufficiently clear" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its versatility and effectiveness in conveying a sense of adequate clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearly sufficient

Emphasizes the adequacy of the clarity.

patently adequate

Highlights the obviousness and sufficiency.

sufficiently obvious

Focuses on the adequacy of the obviousness.

unmistakably clear

Stresses the lack of ambiguity and the completeness of clarity.

readily understandable

Emphasizes ease of comprehension.

easily discernible

Focuses on the ease with which something can be distinguished or recognized.

obviously adequate

Highlights the self-evidence of the sufficiency.

distinctly clear

Focuses on the sharpness and clarity.

unquestionably evident

Stresses the undeniable nature of the evidence.

palpably clear

Emphasizes the tangibility or obviousness of the clarity.

FAQs

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

Use "plainly enough" to indicate that something is sufficiently clear or easily understood. For example, "The instructions were written "clearly enough" for anyone to follow".

What are some alternatives to "plainly enough"?

You can use alternatives like "clearly enough", "sufficiently clear", or "easily understood" depending on the context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "plainly enough"?

While grammatically correct, "plainly enough" might not be suitable for highly formal or technical writing where more precise language is preferred. Consider the tone and audience.

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

"Plainly enough" suggests a level of clarity that is adequate for understanding, whereas "obviously" implies that something is self-evident and requires no further explanation.