varied and complex

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "varied and complex" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has multiple different elements or aspects and is intricate or complicated in nature. Example: "The artist's work is known for its varied and complex themes, which often challenge the viewer's perception."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The stories are varied and complex.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their movies were indisputably more varied and complex, artistic and controversial, and they made money.

The New Yorker

He is as varied and complex as his shirts are simple and unchanging.

The New York Times - Style

The reasons for this are varied and complex but we do know that they are linked to social inequality.

The Guardian - Opinion

British journalism could recover what it had missed in a land far more varied and complex than London thinks.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, European laws developed more varied and complex partnership and corporate forms, allowing larger and more adaptable ventures.

The New York Times

Today, the motivations appear as varied and complex as the procedures.

The New York Times

It was a grimy city; it was also more socially varied and complex.

The New York Times - Arts

Istanbul Cooking Alaturka: Turkish Cuisine Turkey has a cuisine as varied and complex as its history.

The New York Times

When racism and white supremacy bears fruit in the form of dead or abused black bodies, the response from those affected will always be varied and complex.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It encompasses both rural and heavily urbanised areas overlying a spatially-varied and complex geology.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a topic, system or situation, use "varied and complex" to convey both the diversity of its elements and the intricate relationships between them. For example, "The challenges of urban planning are both varied and complex, requiring interdisciplinary solutions."

Common error

Avoid using "varied and complex" when describing something that is simply diverse or has a few complications. Overusing this phrase in simple contexts can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. Instead, use simpler alternatives like "diverse" or "intricate" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "varied and complex" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It's used to attribute qualities of both diversity and intricacy to a noun. Ludwig shows many examples in diverse contexts, validating its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Unknown

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "varied and complex" is a descriptive adjective phrase frequently employed to denote diversity and intricacy. Ludwig analysis shows the phrase is grammatically correct and sees wide application across diverse domains such as news, science, and business. The phrase’s neutral to formal register makes it suitable for professional and academic contexts. While there are numerous alternative phrases, "varied and complex" specifically emphasizes both the range of elements and intricate relationships within a given subject. It's a robust choice for accurately describing multifaceted topics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diverse and intricate

Replaces "varied" with "diverse" and "complex" with "intricate", maintaining the core meaning of multifaceted nature.

multifaceted and complicated

Substitutes "varied" with "multifaceted" and "complex" with "complicated", emphasizing the multiple aspects and difficulty.

manifold and intricate

Uses "manifold" instead of "varied", highlighting the numerous aspects along with "intricate" which replaces "complex".

diverse and multifaceted

Swaps "varied" for "diverse" and "complex" for "multifaceted", focusing on the many different aspects.

complex and heterogeneous

Reverses the order and changes "varied" to "heterogeneous", emphasizing the lack of uniformity and intricacy.

wide-ranging and detailed

Implies "varied" with "wide-ranging" and replaces "complex" with "detailed", focusing on scope and thoroughness.

multifarious and elaborate

Replaces "varied" with "multifarious" and "complex" with "elaborate", stressing variety and detail.

assorted and sophisticated

Uses "assorted" in place of "varied" and "sophisticated" instead of "complex", indicating variety and refinement.

eclectic and complicated

Substitutes "varied" with "eclectic", highlighting a mix of sources and keeps "complicated" instead of "complex".

different and involved

Replaces "varied" with "different" and "complex" with "involved", suggesting dissimilarity and intricacy.

FAQs

How can I use "varied and complex" in a sentence?

You can use "varied and complex" to describe something that has many different parts and is not easy to understand. For example, "The reasons for climate change are "varied and complex"."

What can I say instead of "varied and complex"?

You can use alternatives like "diverse and intricate", "multifaceted and complicated", or "manifold and intricate" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "varied and complex"?

While "varied" and "complex" can sometimes overlap in meaning, they emphasize different aspects. "Varied" highlights the diversity of elements, while "complex" underscores the intricate relationships between them. Using them together can strengthen the description, but avoid redundancy by considering the context.

What's the difference between "varied and complex" and "complicated and complex"?

"Varied and complex" emphasizes the diversity of elements and intricate relationships. "Complicated and complex", on the other hand, focuses on the difficulty of understanding or dealing with something, implying a high level of intricacy and potential difficulty in resolution.