too obvious to

USAGE SUMMARY

"too obvious to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are emphasizing that something is so obvious that it does not need to be mentioned or explained. For example: "It's too obvious to even need to be said, but of course everyone needs to be wearing a seatbelt when driving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It sounded too obvious to need stating.

The New Yorker

The parallels are too obvious to ignore.

The Guardian

It's almost too obvious to mention.

The Guardian

The network's timing was too obvious to be ignored.

The New York Times

The moral of the story is too obvious to mention.

The New York Times - Arts

He said the moral hypocrisy was too obvious to ignore.

The Washington Post

The conflict, nevertheless, is too obvious to debate.

The New York Times

Trump's psychology is far too obvious to be interesting.

The New Yorker

The difference in size and sculpture was too obvious to ignore.

The New York Times - Sports

Parallels to the O. J. Simpson chase are too obvious to point out.

The New York Times

Complaints about the game's self-importance gradually became too obvious to mention.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too obvious to" when you want to subtly imply that the listener or reader should already be aware of the information, but you still need to state it for completeness or emphasis. For example, in a formal report: "The need for accurate data is "too obvious to" warrant extensive discussion, but procedures are outlined in Appendix A."

Common error

Avoid using "too obvious to" in situations where it might come across as condescending or dismissive. Instead of saying "The solution is "too obvious to" explain", try "The solution is straightforward and involves..." This prevents alienating your audience and encourages collaboration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too obvious to" functions as an intensifier followed by an infinitive construction. It highlights the degree to which something is apparent, suggesting that further explanation or action is unnecessary, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too obvious to" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the self-evident nature of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid using it in a condescending tone. Consider more formal alternatives like "self-evident" or "hardly needs stating" in academic or professional settings. Its frequency and widespread use make it a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

goes without saying

Implies that something is so obvious it doesn't require explicit articulation.

self-evident

Conveys the idea that something is obvious without needing proof.

hardly needs stating

Suggests that something is so well-known it's almost unnecessary to mention.

blindingly obvious

Adds a touch of exaggeration to emphasize the extreme obviousness.

patently clear that

Replaces "too obvious to" with a more emphatic assertion of clarity.

unmistakable

Highlights the impossibility of misinterpreting or overlooking something.

unquestionably evident that

Emphasizes the indisputable nature of the evidence.

crystal clear

Emphasizes the complete clarity and lack of ambiguity.

plain as day

Offers a more informal and figurative way of saying something is easily understood.

a foregone conclusion

Indicates that the outcome is so predictable it's practically certain.

FAQs

How can I use "too obvious to" in a sentence?

You can use "too obvious to" to indicate something is so evident that further explanation is unnecessary. For example: "The benefits of regular exercise are "too obvious to" ignore."

What is a more formal alternative to "too obvious to"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "self-evident" or "hardly needs stating".

Is it appropriate to use "too obvious to" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "too obvious to" might be considered informal for some academic contexts. Alternatives like "unquestionably evident that" or "patently clear that" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "too obvious to ignore" and "too obvious to mention"?

"Too obvious to ignore" suggests something cannot be overlooked due to its importance. "Too obvious to mention" implies something is so well-known it's almost unnecessary to bring up. The key difference lies in whether the emphasis is on importance or common knowledge.