Cool MateEvident vs Perfectly clear
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Evident
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Perfectly clear
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Evident
| Evident | Perfectly clear | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈevɪdənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈevɪdənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɜːfɪktli klɪə//🇺🇸 //ˈpɜrfɪktli klɪr// |
| Meaning | Easy to see or understand. | Completely understandable or obvious. |
| Example | It was evident that she had worked hard to achieve the results. | The instructions were perfectly clear, so everyone understood their tasks. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, from, in, to | perfectly clear explanation, perfectly clear instructions, perfectly clear message |
| Antonyms | hidden, obscure, unclear | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'evidence' — remember, 'evident' describes clarity, while 'evidence' refers to proof., Using it in inappropriate contexts, such as slang or informal settings., Confusing with synonyms like 'apparent,' which may have slightly different meanings. | Using 'perfectly clear' in situations where ambiguity exists., Confusing with similar phrases like 'absolutely clear'., Overusing in casual conversations; it's more formal. |
| Usage notes | Use 'evident' to describe something that is obvious. It is more formal than 'clear' and often used in writing or speeches. Not commonly used in casual conversations. | Used to emphasize that something is understood without any confusion. Suitable for both speaking and writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Evident vs Perfectly clear
What's the difference between Evident and Perfectly clear?
Evident: Easy to see or understand. Perfectly clear: Completely understandable or obvious.
Which is more common: Evident and Perfectly clear?
Evident is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Evident: It was evident that she had worked hard to achieve the results. Perfectly clear: The instructions were perfectly clear, so everyone understood their tasks.
Can I use Evident and Perfectly clear interchangeably?
Not always. Evident and Perfectly clear are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.