seemingly evident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seemingly evident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to be clear or obvious, though there may be some doubt about its certainty. Example: "The results of the experiment were seemingly evident, suggesting a strong correlation between the two variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

On the other hand, what's painfully clear to some seems questionable to others; that's why experts perform research and pile evidence about seemingly evident truths, in a determined effort to gather facts.

Huffington Post

Any comparative considerations of Japanese Pure Land Buddhist thought, therefore, require caution, even in the face of seemingly evident resemblance.

SEP

Centenarians' advice is seemingly evident when it comes to personal finance: Spend less and save more.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This difference was seemingly more evident in the U-266, RPMI- 8226 and INA-6 cell lines.

BMC Cancer

Last week, however, New York's attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, shattered consumer faith in this seemingly self-evident truth.

The New Yorker

As seemingly self-evident as a dinner-and-a-movie place is, it can be difficult to attract audiences.

The New York Times

The N.C.A.A. rule book mandates that basketballs must meet certain seemingly self-evident requirements to ensure some level of uniformity.

The New York Times - Sports

In laboratory experiments, the researchers presented an individual with a seemingly self-evident truth, like the hygienic benefits of brushing teeth daily.

The New York Times

Bestiality critics advocate laws like Florida's for seemingly self-evident reasons – they think that bestiality is cruel, too perverse a kink to be legal.

The Guardian - Opinion

He makes the seemingly self-evident point that wines have objective qualities that exist independent of our ability to detect them and boldly asserts that "good tasters are those who get matters right".

The New York Times - Books

So deeply ingrained in our contemporary culture have its tenets now become that Britain is today not just divorced from the rest of the world, but in real danger of assuming that others share our own, seemingly self-evident, attitudes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemingly evident" when you want to express that something appears obvious, but you want to subtly indicate that further investigation or critical thought might be necessary. It adds a layer of nuance, suggesting caution against accepting things at face value.

Common error

Avoid using "seemingly evident" as a filler phrase. If something truly is evident, state it directly. Reserve "seemingly evident" for situations where you specifically want to introduce a degree of uncertainty or suggest a deeper complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemingly evident" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, qualifying the noun it describes by suggesting that something appears to be obvious or clear, but perhaps not definitively so. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seemingly evident" is a grammatically sound and useful phrase for expressing an appearance of clarity that may warrant further scrutiny. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse and ensuring it adds meaningful nuance to your writing. The phrase finds its place across diverse domains like news, science, and formal business, albeit with uncommon frequency. Alternatives such as "apparently obvious" or "ostensibly clear" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis. Remember to use "seemingly evident" when you want to suggest a degree of uncertainty or complexity beneath a surface-level clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently obvious

Focuses more on the appearance of being obvious without necessarily implying underlying doubt.

ostensibly clear

Highlights the outward appearance of clarity, potentially masking underlying complexities.

visibly apparent

Emphasizes the ease with which something can be seen or noticed.

superficially manifest

Suggests that something is evident on the surface but may not be true upon closer inspection.

on the face of it

Indicates that something appears to be a certain way at first glance.

to all appearances

Highlights that based on available information, something seems to be the case.

outwardly visible

Emphasizes external visibility, without commenting on underlying reality.

by all indications

Suggests that all available signs point to a particular conclusion.

presumptively obvious

Implies that something is assumed to be obvious, though this assumption might be challenged.

nominally clear

Highlights a formal or stated clarity that may not reflect actual understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "seemingly evident" in a sentence?

The phrase "seemingly evident" is used to describe something that appears obvious or clear at first glance, but may require further examination. For example: "The solution to the problem was "seemingly evident", but further analysis revealed hidden complexities."

What are some alternatives to "seemingly evident"?

Alternatives include "apparently obvious", "ostensibly clear", or "visibly apparent", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "seemingly evident" redundant?

While "evident" alone implies clarity, "seemingly evident" adds a layer of qualification, suggesting the clarity might be superficial. It's not strictly redundant, but should be used intentionally when you want to imply potential doubt.

What's the difference between "seemingly evident" and "self-evident"?

"Self-evident" means something is obvious without needing proof or explanation. "Seemingly evident" suggests something appears obvious but might not be upon closer inspection. "Self-evident" is stronger and less open to interpretation than "seemingly evident".