Some things are plain to see; others only seem true; and some are understood without anyone saying a word. Careful readers notice which is which, because writers use these words to tell you how much to trust a claim.
Key idea
Plain to see: manifest, patent, unmistakable, palpable (you can almost touch it), overt (done in the open). Plain and shameless: blatant, flagrant. Only seeming: ostensible, purported. Unspoken: tacit.
When a passage says the ostensible reason or the purported letter, the writer is warning you: this is what was claimed, not necessarily what is true.
The ten words
Common mistake
flagrant (shockingly obvious) is not fragrant. ostensible means "apparent, but maybe not real": the ostensible reason may hide the real one.
| word | what it tells you | tone |
|---|---|---|
| manifest, patent, unmistakable | plain to see | neutral |
| palpable | so strong you can almost touch it | neutral |
| overt | done in the open (opposite: covert) | neutral |
| blatant, flagrant | obvious and shameless; glaringly wrong | disapproving |
| ostensible, purported | claimed or seeming, maybe not true | doubtful |
| tacit | understood without words | neutral |
Flagrant (from Latin for blazing) is not fragrant (sweet-smelling). And when you see ostensibly, expect a twist: “Ostensibly, he came to help; in fact, he came to eat.”