principle of clarity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "principle of clarity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the importance of clear communication or understanding in various contexts, such as writing, teaching, or design. Example: "In our communication strategy, we adhere to the principle of clarity to ensure that our messages are easily understood by our audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

On October 12th, in the Speech from the Throne that formally opened the new session of Parliament, the government set out its resolve in a single, vague sentence, saying that "the principle of clarity will be respected".But how this principle will be defined is no clearer than before.

The Economist

The new foundation of certainty in Desgabets's scheme is the principle of intentionality, from which Desgabets claimed to have demonstrably derived the principle of clarity and distinctness.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Owen also believes people will abide by the principles of clarity, unity and purpose upon which he conceived Pristina.

The New York Times - Books

Rules of usage are well worth mastering, but they pale in importance behind principles of clarity, style, coherence, and consideration for the reader.

The Guardian - Books

While the presentations and viewings of genetic data frequently deal with enormous complexity, Tufte's principles of clarity, precision, and efficiency are poorly served by the IUPAC system of using capital or lower-case Roman letters.

BMC Genomics

But they insisted that the definition and categorisation of groups as jihadist, as well as the creation and execution of rules for counting and coding incidents, were guided by the "principles of transparency, clarity, and rigour".

The Guardian

"The National Gallery's approach to the conservation of Monet's painting was primarily dictated by the need to retain the integrity and originality of the painting and by applying the principles of reversibility, clarity and minimum intervention," said Simone Mancini, the gallery's head of conservation.

BBC

And playing the son who forces Creon into a reconsideration of matters of principle whereby clarity arrives too late, Luke Newberry argues the case for at least hearing all sides of the debate.

The New York Times - Arts

Principle, clarity of thought and language and an underlying humanity; a sense of purpose, a sense of humour, a sense of style.

The Guardian

It is probably worth restating the original formulation of this principle for the sake of clarity of argument: '[w]here our actions will, or may probably prevent serious harm then if we can reasonably (given the balance of risk and burden to ourselves and benefit to others) we clearly should act because to fail to do so is to accept responsibility for the harm that occurs'.

Bioethics

In a somewhat nebulous form this principle had been employed on occasion by a number of Leibniz's predecessors, including Cusanus and Kepler, but it was Leibniz who gave to the principle "a clarity of formulation which had previously been lacking and perhaps for this reason regarded it as his own discovery" (Boyer 1959, p. 217).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "principle of clarity", ensure that the context clearly defines what "clarity" refers to. Provide specific examples or explanations to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that your audience automatically understands what you mean by "clarity". Explicitly state what constitutes clarity in your specific context to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "principle of clarity" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a guiding rule or fundamental belief related to the concept of clear and easily understandable communication. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "principle of clarity" is a noun phrase emphasizing the importance of clear and easily understandable communication across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms it's a valid English phrase, though relatively rare. While its grammatical status is correct, it benefits from careful usage to ensure shared understanding with the audience. It appears most frequently in news, scientific and academic sources. Alternatives include "clarity principle" and "standard of clarity".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarity principle

This is a more concise version, omitting "of" for brevity.

clarity guideline

Replaces "principle" with "guideline", suggesting a less strict rule.

standard of clarity

Substitutes "principle" with "standard", emphasizing a required level.

imperative of clarity

Replaces "principle" with "imperative", highlighting the necessity of clarity.

need for clarity

Focuses on the requirement for clear understanding.

importance of clarity

Emphasizes the significance of being clear.

value of clarity

Highlights the worth or benefit of clear communication.

doctrine of clarity

Uses "doctrine" instead of "principle", implying a more formalized belief.

concept of clarity

Refers to clarity as an idea or notion.

criterion of clarity

Presents clarity as a measure or benchmark.

FAQs

How can I use "principle of clarity" in a sentence?

You can use "principle of clarity" to emphasize the importance of being easily understood in communication, writing, or design. For example, "The design adheres to the principle of clarity to ensure ease of use."

What is another way to say "principle of clarity"?

Alternatives include "clarity principle", "clarity guideline", or "standard of clarity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is the "principle of clarity" most relevant?

The "principle of clarity" is particularly relevant in fields like legal writing, technical documentation, education, and design, where accurate and unambiguous communication is crucial.

How does the "principle of clarity" relate to effective communication?

The "principle of clarity" is fundamental to effective communication because it ensures that messages are easily understood, reducing the risk of misinterpretation and confusion.