somewhat intricate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat intricate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is complex or detailed to a certain degree, often implying that it may require careful consideration or understanding. Example: "The design of the new software is somewhat intricate, requiring users to familiarize themselves with its various features."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The third objection is somewhat intricate, so it will require some explaining.

SEP

However, the details get somewhat intricate, and I have chosen not to get into them in this exposition.

SEP

In "conclusion", although the multiplicity of etiologies and the somewhat intricate nature of mechanisms related to normotonic or hypertonic hyponatremia may seem bewildering at first, physicians may salvage consolation in the fact that these conditions are rare, cause only mild to moderate hyponatremia and can be readily ruled out by a simple and expeditious clinical and biological assessment.

Annals of Intensive Care

Nakoula ran afoul of the law in 2010, when he pleaded no contest to federal bank fraud charges after being indicted in a somewhat intricate scheme involving fake bank accounts created using stolen Social Security numbers.

Huffington Post

The mechanism explaining the relationship between HIV/AIDS and functional exercise capacity is somewhat intricate and complex.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

In " conclusion", although the multiplicity of etiologies and the somewhat intricate nature of mechanisms related to normotonic or hypertonic hyponatremia may seem bewildering at first, physicians may salvage consolation in the fact that these conditions are rare, cause only mild to moderate hyponatremia and can be readily ruled out by a simple and expeditious clinical and biological assessment.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Or with her somewhat more intricate (or circular?) case that even the most embracingly inclusive empires eventually disintegrate because they lack "glue" — an overarching political identity to give coherence to the whole.

The New York Times - Books

The interpretation of the effects in the Procrustes ANOVA is somewhat more intricate in this case because there are additional effects to be considered.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The story is a somewhat complicated and intricate, and scholars disagree about the nature of the empiricism.

SEP

To somewhat simplify this intricate process, data-driven characterization of a complex system behavior often starts with defining a target set of system's distinct phenotypes of interest, such as thermo-resistance, acid-tolerance, hydrogen production, and enumerating only those key system components that could be responsible for or contributing to the given phenotype(s).

BMC Systems Biology

Mr. Mozgala's first tattoo, an intricate and somewhat scary combination of a luger, a cross and a crutch that he said was an interpretation of a dream he had, impressed Mr. James because of the line-shading technique the artist had used.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat intricate" when you want to convey that something is complex but not overwhelmingly so. It's useful for setting expectations that some effort may be required for understanding, but the task isn't impossible.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat intricate" to describe things that are already known to be simple or straightforward. This can make your writing sound pretentious or unclear. Save it for situations where genuine complexity is involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat intricate" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically describing the characteristic of a noun. It softens the impact of "intricate," indicating a degree of complexity that is present but not overwhelming. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it often precedes nouns like "scheme", "nature", or "mechanism".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat intricate" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe things that exhibit a moderate degree of complexity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in scientific and news contexts to indicate that a subject requires some attention to detail without being overwhelmingly complex. When writing, use it to avoid overstating complexity, and consider alternatives like "moderately complex" or "slightly complicated" to fine-tune your message. Be mindful of overusing the phrase in simple contexts as it may come across as pretentious.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately complex

Replaces "intricate" with a more common synonym while retaining the qualifier.

slightly complicated

Substitutes both words with alternatives that emphasize the minor degree of difficulty.

somewhat involved

Emphasizes the level of engagement or steps required, rather than pure complexity.

somewhat sophisticated

Highlights a level of refinement that is beyond the elementary

a bit elaborate

Highlights the detailed and perhaps excessive nature of the subject.

fairly detailed

Focuses on the level of detail present, suggesting thoroughness.

reasonably convoluted

Implies a winding or confusing structure, but not excessively so.

kind of knotty

Uses a more informal term to suggest a tangled or difficult aspect.

marginally sophisticated

Indicates a higher level of complexity and refinement.

passably labyrinthine

Suggests a maze-like quality, but with a hint of accessibility.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat intricate" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat intricate" to describe a process, design, or idea that is complex but not overwhelmingly so. For example, "The mechanism explaining the relationship between HIV/AIDS and functional exercise capacity is "somewhat intricate" and complex."

What is a good alternative to "somewhat intricate"?

Alternatives to "somewhat intricate" include "moderately complex", "slightly complicated", or "somewhat involved", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "somewhat intricate" or "very intricate"?

The choice depends on the degree of complexity. "Somewhat intricate" implies a moderate level of detail, while "very intricate" suggests a high level of complexity. Choose the phrase that most accurately reflects the situation.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "somewhat intricate"?

It is appropriate to use "somewhat intricate" when describing something that requires a degree of attention or study to understand but isn't so complex as to be impenetrable. It suggests a manageable level of sophistication.