rather clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather clear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is quite easy to understand or unambiguous. Example: "The instructions were rather clear, making it easy for everyone to follow along."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In a box?" — did make my skepticism rather clear.

The New York Times

"The choice became rather clear when they sued us".

The New York Times

"Friendly made it rather clear that he thought the framing was witting".

The New York Times

His former colleagues have made it rather clear they are likely to fight.

Independent

I felt the plane make a rather clear and fast descent.

The New York Times

It's rather clear how you view (or at least viewed) the seriousness of marriage.

The New York Times

She never said that anything was "good" or "bad", but rather, "clear" or "unclear".

The Guardian

"The law is rather clear on this," said Eliot Lichtman, a veteran immigration lawyer.

The New York Times

When you put all these statistics together, the portrait painted becomes rather clear.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Try to figure out exactly how the party feels about Israel, for example).In other cases, it is rather clear.

The Economist

After all, there is a huge industry in antishoplifting systems, despite rather clear laws on the subject.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather clear" when you want to express that something is noticeably easy to understand, but perhaps not completely obvious. It's a moderate way to express clarity.

Common error

While "rather clear" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. In such contexts, consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "unequivocal" or "explicit" to convey a greater sense of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather clear" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun or situation. It describes the degree to which something is understandable or obvious. As noted by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

58%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather clear" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a moderate degree of clarity or understanding. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness. It finds applications in various contexts, from news and media to science and general conversation. While "rather clear" is generally acceptable, writers should consider stronger alternatives such as "unequivocal" or "explicit" in formal academic settings to enhance precision. Related phrases include "fairly clear" and "quite clear". Remember to use "rather clear" when you aim to convey that something is easily understood but not entirely obvious.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly clear

Uses "fairly" instead of "rather", slightly altering the degree of clarity.

quite clear

Substitutes "rather" with "quite", offering a near-identical level of clarity.

relatively clear

Emphasizes the clarity in comparison to something else.

distinctly clear

Highlights the clarity as being easily noticeable or standing out.

unambiguously clear

Emphasizes the absence of any ambiguity in the clarity.

somewhat clear

Indicates a lower degree of clarity than "rather clear".

readily apparent

Suggests the clarity is immediately noticeable or understandable.

easily understood

Focuses on the ease of understanding, rather than the degree of clarity itself.

patently obvious

Indicates the obviousness is undeniable or easily proven.

plainly obvious

Shifts from clarity to obviousness, implying that something is very easy to see or understand.

FAQs

How can I use "rather clear" in a sentence?

You can use "rather clear" to describe something that is easily understood or apparent. For example, "The instructions were "rather clear", so the task was simple."

What are some alternatives to "rather clear"?

Some alternatives include "fairly clear", "quite clear", or "relatively clear". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "rather clear" too informal for academic writing?

While generally acceptable, "rather clear" might be considered slightly informal for the most rigorous academic writing. In those cases, consider stronger and more precise alternatives.

What's the difference between "rather clear" and "very clear"?

"Rather clear" suggests a moderate level of clarity, while "very clear" implies a higher degree of certainty and obviousness. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual level of clarity you want to convey.