Obviously vs So far so obvious

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Obviously

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 adverb

So far so obvious

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most formal: Obviously Most common: Obviously

	Obviously	So far so obvious
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈɒbviəsli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːbviəsli/"]/	🇬🇧 //səʊ fɑː səʊ ˈɒb.vɪ.əs// 🇺🇸 //soʊ fɑr soʊ ˈɑbviəs//
Meaning	Clearly or easily seen.	It means something is clear and expected up to this point.
Example	Obviously, we don't want to spend too much money.	The instructions were easy to follow; so far so obvious.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	B1	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	obviously correct, obviously wrong, obviously happy, obviously important, obviously true	so far, so obvious, obvious choice
Antonyms	unclearly, ambiguously	-
Common mistakes	'Obvious' vs 'obviously': Confusing the adjective and adverb forms., Using in overly formal situations: It's too casual for very formal writing., Placing it too far from what it's describing: Should be close to the idea it clarifies.	Using it in formal contexts like academic papers., Confusing it with similar phrases that don't convey predictability., Omitting 'so' in the phrase, changing its meaning.
Usage notes	Use 'obviously' when something is clear or evident. It's appropriate in most contexts but can seem sarcastic if overused.	Used in casual conversation to indicate that something is predictable or evident. Not typically used in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Succession › S1 E1

Great, 'cause obviously I'm soft-floating to like, Frank and Rava,

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

But you are alive. Obviously you wised up.

Sherlock › S1 E1

Well, obviously I can straighten things up a bit.

Succession › S1 E1

Great, 'cause obviously I'm soft-floating to like, Frank and Rava,

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

But you are alive. Obviously you wised up.

Obviously

Sherlock › S1 E1

before returning home to Cardiff - so far, so obvious.

So far so obvious

Frequently asked questions: Obviously vs So far so obvious

What's the difference between Obviously and So far so obvious?

Obviously: Clearly or easily seen. So far so obvious: It means something is clear and expected up to this point.

Which is more formal: Obviously and So far so obvious?

Obviously is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Obviously and So far so obvious?

Obviously is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Obviously: Obviously, we don't want to spend too much money. So far so obvious: The instructions were easy to follow; so far so obvious.

Can I use Obviously and So far so obvious interchangeably?

Not always. Obviously and So far so obvious 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.