strictly clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strictly clear" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when emphasizing that something is very clear or unambiguous, although "strictly" may not be the best choice of word in this context. Example: "The instructions were strictly clear, leaving no room for misunderstanding."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At present, it is not strictly clear which of these two hypotheses is correct, and therefore although the streptophyte and Roya IR regions are perhaps most likely homologous, some doubt remains.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The boy had clear, strictly financial goals to move somewhere dry, afford medication for his father and get together a dowry so that his sister could marry.

The Guardian - Books

Unless they are strictly limited to clear cases of criminality, they have a chilling effect on citizens who might otherwise join the protest.

Huffington Post

Blinding and equipoise are strictly maintained through clear protocols, assessor training, and oversight of procedure by the Principal Investigator.

BMC Health Services Research

The corporation cleared Strictly judge Len Goodman last week, according to reports, after he appeared to swear under his breath during a spirited critique of a performance by Simon Webbe and his partner Kristina Rihanoff.

The Guardian

Strictly speaking, the only clear-cut cases of "risk" (known probabilities) seem to be idealized textbook cases that refer to devices such as dice or coins that are supposed to be known with certainty to be fair.

SEP

Only later did it become clear that, strictly speaking, the neutron emits an antineutrino.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many are forbidden altogether.It is not clear how strictly the content of foreign programmes shown online will be vetted.

The Economist

IMF or not, Brown is obviously going to steer well clear of Strictly Come Dancing or the investment banking world that tempted Blair and Major or the feline consultancy world now embracing Peter Mandelson who, we read, is being bankrolled by WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell.

The Guardian

Some chronic facial pain is strictly unilateral and follows clear neurological boundaries whereas others are very widespread in distribution.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

To be completely clear, based strictly on a law and order argument, Siegel is correct.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for utmost clarity, consider alternatives like "perfectly clear" or "absolutely clear" instead of "strictly clear", as they might sound more natural to a contemporary English speaker.

Common error

Avoid using "strictly clear" when simple clarity is sufficient. Overusing "strictly" can make your writing sound overly formal or even somewhat unnatural in contexts where a straightforward expression is preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strictly clear" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "strictly" modifies the adjective "clear" to emphasize the unequivocal nature of something. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, including scientific and general discourse.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "strictly clear" is a grammatically acceptable but somewhat uncommon way to emphasize the lack of ambiguity. Ludwig indicates that while technically correct, it might sound slightly awkward to modern English speakers and offers alternatives such as "perfectly clear" or "absolutely clear". Usage is spread between Science and News & Media, leaning towards a formal register. While "strictly clear" isn't incorrect, consider its alternatives for a more natural and impactful expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perfectly clear

Replaces "strictly" with "perfectly", emphasizing completeness and lack of ambiguity.

absolutely clear

Substitutes "strictly" with "absolutely", highlighting the total absence of doubt or confusion.

unequivocally clear

Replaces "strictly" with "unequivocally", stressing the absence of any possible misinterpretation.

patently obvious

Shifts from clarity to obviousness, indicating something easily and readily apparent.

crystal clear

Uses a metaphor to emphasize the transparency and lack of ambiguity.

distinctly clear

Emphasizes the sharpness and definition of the clarity.

unambiguously clear

Highlights the lack of potential for multiple interpretations.

plainly evident

Focuses on the ease with which something can be seen or understood.

manifestly obvious

Similar to "patently obvious", but with a slightly more formal tone.

clearly defined

Shifts the focus to the precise and distinct nature of the definition.

FAQs

What does "strictly clear" mean?

The phrase "strictly clear" aims to emphasize that something is very unambiguous and well-defined. However, it's not a common idiom, and more conventional alternatives may be preferable.

What can I say instead of "strictly clear"?

You can use alternatives like "perfectly clear", "absolutely clear", or "unequivocally clear" depending on the context.

Is "strictly clear" grammatically correct?

Yes, "strictly clear" is grammatically correct, but it is not the most common or idiomatic way to express the idea of something being very clear.

When is it appropriate to use "strictly clear"?

Using "strictly clear" can be appropriate when you wish to emphasize the precision and lack of ambiguity. However, consider whether alternatives like "perfectly clear" or "absolutely clear" might be more suitable.