somewhat perplexing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat perplexing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is confusing or difficult to understand to a moderate degree. Example: "The results of the experiment were somewhat perplexing, leaving the researchers with more questions than answers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

The leaders of the church, Pastor Ann Kansfield and the Rev. Jennifer Aull, find the academics' enthusiasm somewhat perplexing.

The New York Times

The arrival of a Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition on Playstation 4 and Xbox One is welcome, though somewhat perplexing.

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Palmiter, who is 76 and specializes in restoring 19th-century sleds, called the resurgence of sleds that cannot be steered somewhat perplexing.

The New York Times

What constellation is this? A. Though much has been written about Grand Central's star-flecked celestial ceiling, aspects of the actual design, like the "bee," remain somewhat perplexing.

The New York Times

To the Editor: Your claim of shock at the lack of use of sophisticated information technology in the health care system is somewhat perplexing.

The New York Times

Microsoft does though, which makes this recent news somewhat perplexing.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Ms. Ozick seems somewhat perplexed by the firmness of her conclusions in these and other pieces in "Quarrel & Quandary".

The New York Times - Books

I know they are somewhat perplexed by the entire set-up; in any case, we both have something else on our minds.

The Guardian - Opinion

In determining how to handle the case, police officials said that investigators were somewhat perplexed by the uniqueness of the situation.

The New York Times

Norman also said that he was somewhat perplexed by the proposed legal action by STV, the Scottish ITV licensee, particularly given that he has never met its chief executive, Rob Woodward.

The Guardian

I very much appreciated Emily Cooke's review of Susan Choi's new novel, "My Education" (July 21), but I was somewhat perplexed by Cooke's assertion that "if a number of the great novels of the past century have been stories of gay love, no really adequate literature of bisexuality exists".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat perplexing" when you want to express that something is confusing but not entirely incomprehensible. It implies a moderate level of bewilderment.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat perplexing" when something is completely incomprehensible. In such cases, stronger terms like "utterly baffling" or "completely incomprehensible" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat perplexing" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or situation to indicate a moderate level of confusion or bewilderment. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "somewhat perplexing" is a commonly used adverb-adjective combination that conveys a moderate level of confusion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It frequently appears in both News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When something causes a bit of confusion but isn't entirely incomprehensible, "somewhat perplexing" is the perfect choice. Alternatives like "a little confusing" or "slightly puzzling" can be used for a more casual tone or to adjust the intensity of the confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little confusing

Replaces "perplexing" with "confusing" and "somewhat" with "a little", reducing the intensity of the bewilderment.

slightly puzzling

Substitutes "perplexing" with "puzzling" and "somewhat" with "slightly", keeping a similar nuance.

rather baffling

Changes "perplexing" to "baffling" and "somewhat" to "rather", increasing the intensity of the confusion.

mildly bewildering

Replaces "perplexing" with "bewildering" and "somewhat" with "mildly", indicating a slightly disorienting effect.

somewhat mystifying

Substitutes "perplexing" with "mystifying", suggesting an element of mystery in the confusion.

a bit obscure

Uses "obscure" instead of "perplexing", focusing on the lack of clarity.

slightly enigmatic

Replaces "perplexing" with "enigmatic", implying a more profound and intriguing form of confusion.

rather mysterious

Substitutes "perplexing" with "mysterious" and "somewhat" with "rather", suggesting something that cannot be easily understood.

a trifle confusing

Similar to "a little confusing", but with a more archaic tone.

vaguely puzzling

Emphasizes the lack of clarity in a puzzling situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "somewhat perplexing" to describe situations, ideas, or findings that are moderately confusing or difficult to understand. For example, "The experiment's results were "somewhat perplexing", requiring further analysis".

What are some alternatives to "somewhat perplexing"?

You can use alternatives like "a little confusing", "slightly puzzling", or "rather baffling" depending on the context and the degree of confusion you wish to convey.

Is "somewhat perplexing" formal or informal?

"Somewhat perplexing" is generally considered neutral to formal. It can be used in a variety of contexts, including academic, professional, and news media. More informal alternatives might include "a bit confusing" or "kind of puzzling".

What's the difference between "somewhat perplexing" and "utterly baffling"?

"Somewhat perplexing" implies a moderate degree of confusion, while "utterly baffling" suggests complete incomprehension. Use "utterly baffling" when something is completely impossible to understand, whereas "somewhat perplexing" is suitable when there's a degree of confusion that isn't absolute.