seemingly obvious that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seemingly obvious that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a belief or perception that something appears to be clear or evident, even if it may not be universally accepted. Example: "It is seemingly obvious that regular exercise contributes to better health and well-being."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But when the attorney general, George Brandis, confirmed the seemingly obvious, that it would probably be held by the end of the year, the conservatives "went ballistic" – fearful that they might be thwarted in their desire to use the policy to make sure no change happened.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But then the inputs encounter a tight bottleneck that causes you to miss the seemingly obvious – unless, that is, you know where to focus beforehand.

The Guardian

Some of these points might seem obvious to you, but it's the seemingly obvious stuff that so easily and so often gets forgotten.

The Guardian

As an investor, in other words, Wylie makes his decision about whether to invest in a company purely on the basis of whether he thinks the company is going to be successful, a seemingly obvious concept that's nonetheless very rare in the relentlessly over-intellectualised world of finance.

The Guardian - Sport

This is another seemingly obvious step that can sometimes be overlooked.

WikiHow

So my lesson that's been hard learned and yet seemingly obvious is that you can't do this on your own.

Huffington Post

How can the seemingly obvious acknowledgement that there are propositions — i.e., that beliefs have sharable objects which bear truth-values — commit us to there being mind-independent abstract entities?

SEP

Lost is the seemingly obvious fact that the machines are useless without a guiding intelligence, better known as a teacher.

The New York Times

The seemingly obvious answer, that the beams stay parallel and never cross, corresponds to the simplest case, a so-called "flat" universe.

The Economist

But in some quarters of the internet, this seemingly obvious idea – that a woman should be equal to a man in every way – is being ridiculed and dismissed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In what is variously called business intelligence, data warehousing or data-driven decision making, accountability-minded administrators are funneling the reams of information they collect each year into a centralized computer bank, a seemingly obvious idea that only recently began trickling down from private industry into schools.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemingly obvious that" to introduce a statement that appears straightforward but may require further examination or nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "seemingly obvious that" for ideas that are universally acknowledged. Instead, reserve it for points that might be overlooked or misunderstood.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "seemingly obvious that" is to act as a hedge or qualifier introducing a statement. It indicates that something appears evident but might not be universally accepted or entirely straightforward. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seemingly obvious that" is a phrase used to introduce statements that appear clear but might require further scrutiny. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It serves as a hedge, signaling a degree of apparent clarity while inviting consideration of underlying complexities. While not as common as simpler alternatives, it's versatile across various writing styles, including news media, scientific writing, and general discourse. Using "seemingly obvious that" judiciously can enhance your writing by acknowledging potential nuances and inviting deeper engagement with the topic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently clear that

Replaces "seemingly" with "apparently" to indicate something appears obvious based on available evidence.

evidently true that

Substitutes "seemingly obvious" with "evidently true" to express something is clearly factual.

ostensibly clear that

Uses "ostensibly" to suggest something is clear on the surface but might hide a deeper complexity.

on the face of it, it's clear that

Adds a more descriptive opening to indicate the obviousness is based on initial observation.

it would seem obvious that

Introduces a conditional tone, suggesting the obviousness is a matter of reasonable inference.

it is patently obvious that

Replaces "seemingly" with "patently", implying the obviousness is undeniable.

it is plainly evident that

Uses "plainly evident" to reinforce the clarity and lack of ambiguity.

it is manifestly obvious that

Emphasizes the conspicuousness of the obvious fact or idea.

it is transparently clear that

Indicates the obviousness is easy to see through, like looking through something transparent.

one might reasonably assume that

Presents the idea as a logical conclusion based on available evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "seemingly obvious that" in a sentence?

The phrase "seemingly obvious that" is used to introduce a statement or idea that appears clear or evident at first glance, but might not be entirely straightforward upon closer inspection. For example: "It is seemingly obvious that regular exercise improves health, but the specific type and intensity of exercise are crucial."

What are some alternatives to "seemingly obvious that"?

You can use alternatives like "apparently clear that", "evidently true that", or "ostensibly clear that", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to use "seemingly obvious"?

While the phrase might seem redundant, it serves to highlight the potential for something to appear obvious initially, while acknowledging that there might be underlying complexities or nuances that are not immediately apparent.

What's the difference between "seemingly obvious that" and "obviously"?

"Obviously" directly asserts that something is clear and evident. "Seemingly obvious that" introduces a degree of qualification, suggesting that something appears evident but might require further consideration or be subject to exceptions.