somewhat clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat clear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not completely clear but has a degree of clarity. Example: "The instructions were somewhat clear, but I still had a few questions about the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Do this about three times until the water you pour out of the bucket is somewhat clear.

Cornell University

While the water is now clean, green and somewhat clear, plenty of work remains, on and off shore.

The New York Times - Sports

"I had to be somewhat clear with him that that's the way it would be," Mr. McKenzie said.

The New York Times - Arts

Today Jarvis said he had evidence that would somewhat clear Jessie, or at least explain his actions.

The New York Times - Sports

For reasons that become (somewhat) clear, you're sitting at a mid-1990s computer with a database of police interviews to search through.

The Guardian - Tech

The path ahead for President Obama's Clean Power Plan went from arduous but somewhat clear to murky with the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Feb. 13.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Later, Mr. Strawn was somewhat clearer.

The New York Times

Where the others fall is somewhat clearer.

The New York Times

The picture is somewhat clearer at US Airways.

The New York Times

This has made the outlook for interest rates somewhat clearer.

The Economist

Two other polls gave Mr. Obama a somewhat clearer advantage.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical or scientific contexts, ensure that "somewhat clear" refers to a measurable state (like liquid transparency) or a specific level of survey respondent comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat clear" when the context already implies uncertainty. For example, in "It might be somewhat clear", the word "might" already performs the hedging function. Using both can make your writing appear indecisive or cluttered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat clear" functions as an adjective phrase where the adverb "somewhat" acts as a submodifier for the adjective "clear". According to Ludwig, it serves to qualify the intensity of the adjective, indicating a middle-ground state that is neither obscure nor fully transparent.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Professional

3%

General

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "somewhat clear" is a versatile and correct expression used to describe a moderate level of transparency or comprehension. Ludwig AI reveals its frequent appearance in high-authority news sources and scientific research, particularly in Likert scales measuring clarity. It serves as an essential tool for writers who need to hedge their statements, acknowledging that while a situation is no longer entirely murky, it hasn't yet reached a state of total transparency. Alternatives like "fairly clear" or "relatively clear" can be used to shift the nuance slightly, but "somewhat clear" remains the standard for expressing a non-absolute degree of certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly clear

Suggests a slightly higher degree of clarity than "somewhat clear".

relatively clear

Implicitly compares the current state of clarity to a previous or expected state.

reasonably clear

Adds a sense of sufficiency for a specific purpose or logic.

moderately clear

Provides a more clinical or precise description of the level of transparency.

partially clear

Indicates that some parts are clear while others remain obscured.

somewhat evident

Shifts the focus from clarity to how obvious or observable a fact is.

somewhat apparent

Suggests that something is becoming visible or known but is not yet fully defined.

mostly clear

Indicates a high but not absolute level of understanding.

slightly clear

Suggests a very low level of clarity, just beginning to be understood.

somewhat understandable

Focuses on the cognitive grasp of the information rather than its inherent clarity.

FAQs

How to use "somewhat clear" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a state of partial understanding, such as: "The path ahead is "somewhat clear", but several challenges remain."

What can I say instead of "somewhat clear"?

Depending on your intent, you might use "fairly clear", "relatively clear" or "reasonably clear".

Is it correct to say "somewhat clear"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a standard way to indicate that something has a degree of clarity without being entirely transparent.

What's the difference between "somewhat clear" and "perfectly clear"?

"perfectly clear" implies absolute transparency or total understanding, whereas "somewhat clear" admits to some remaining ambiguity or lack of definition.