to be candid

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phraseformal

   Used before saying something honest, especially when it may be unwelcome or a bit blunt.

   Grammar: Comes at the start of a clause and is followed by a comma: To be candid, I disagree.

   Patterns

   • To be candid, I think...
   • To be candid with you, ...

   To be candid, I do not think the project can be finished by Friday.

   To be candid with you, the offer is lower than I had hoped.

   She said, to be candid, that the first draft was a disappointment.

Common combinations

to be candid with you

To be candid with you, I did not enjoy the film.

to be candid about

I want to be candid about the risks before we go ahead.

to be perfectly candid

To be perfectly candid, the team was not ready.

to be candid, I

To be candid, I would rather stay home tonight.

Synonyms and how they differ

to be honest

It is the everyday version and fits casual talk, while to be candid sounds a little more polished and serious.

frankly

It is one word, short, and gives a stronger sense of directness without softening.

in all honesty

It stresses sincerity and can sound more emotional than the cool tone of to be candid.

to tell the truth

It is plain and spoken, and often used before an admission rather than a judgment.

Word family

candid adjective

honest and direct

candidly adverb

in an open and frank way

candor noun

honesty in what you say

candidness noun

the quality of being direct and honest

Commonly confused: to be candid or candidate?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “to be candid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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