appear distinctly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear distinctly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is clearly visible or easily perceived. Example: "The stars began to appear distinctly as the night sky darkened."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Clinton is stressing in all her appearances — another point that Penn sees as essential — that Obama will appear distinctly weaker on national-security questions in relation to McCain.

The New Yorker

Clinton is stressing in all her appearances another point that Penn sees as essential that Obama will appear distinctly weaker on national-security questions in relation to McCain.

The New Yorker

Conclusion: Patterns of growth and body composition appear distinctly different with the different RRT modalities.

Journal of Renal Nutrition

The sky and the volcano appear distinctly as blue and red areas, respectively.

Earth, Planets and Space

Secondly, taking each set individually (columns), it appears that the shape is consistent and symmetric down all dimensions (rows), although the shape can appear distinctly different from one sample location to another.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The sample is inspected using optical microscopy in order to identify thin flakes (<10 nm) lying across the aluminum gate, e.g., a flake as in location (I .. Thin flakes were found to exhibit a characteristic yellowish color on the gate region (Al2O3/Al) with a strong contrast to thicker flakes of ~15 25 nm, which appear distinctly blue-colored (cf. locations (II).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

He appears distinctly uncomfortable.

The New York Times - Magazine

The vice president appears distinctly uncomfortable.

The New York Times

Andrew notes that the case for holding a permanent file on him "now appears distinctly dubious".

The Guardian

In this light, a fussy British technocrat touting a massive government aid project appears distinctly uncool.

The New York Times - Books

A3 NATIONAL A14-21 Justices Appear Unmoved By Arguments on Detainees The Supreme Court appeared distinctly unreceptive to the Bush administration's argument that the federal courthouse doors must remain closed to the foreign detainees at the Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appear distinctly" when you want to emphasize that something is not just visible, but also clearly defined or differentiated from its surroundings. It's particularly useful in scientific writing and formal descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "appear distinctly" in casual conversation or informal writing. Alternatives like "look different" or "stand out" are often more appropriate in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear distinctly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify the manner in which something appears. As Ludwig AI confirms, it highlights clarity and ease of perception. The examples show its usage in describing visual observations and differences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appear distinctly" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to emphasize the clarity and obviousness of something's appearance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in science and news media, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While not incorrect in informal contexts, alternatives might be more suitable. Remember to ensure subject-verb agreement when using this phrase. Consider alternatives like "stand out clearly" or "be clearly visible" for varying the language and tailoring it to specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stand out clearly

Replaces "appear" with "stand out", emphasizing prominence and visibility.

be clearly visible

Replaces "distinctly" with "clearly visible", focusing on ease of seeing.

be readily apparent

Uses "readily apparent" to indicate something is easily noticeable.

be noticeably different

Shifts the focus to difference, highlighting a clear contrast.

manifest clearly

Replaces "appear" with "manifest", suggesting a clear demonstration or display.

be sharply defined

Emphasizes the clarity of definition or outline.

be easily discernible

Highlights the ease with which something can be distinguished.

be strikingly evident

Emphasizes the notable and obvious nature of something.

be unambiguously present

Focuses on the lack of ambiguity in the presence of something.

be patently obvious

Highlights the overt and undeniable nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "appear distinctly" in a sentence?

Use "appear distinctly" to describe something that is not just visible, but also clearly defined or differentiated from its surroundings. For example, "The stars began to appear distinctly as the night sky darkened."

What can I say instead of "appear distinctly"?

You can use alternatives like "stand out clearly", "be clearly visible", or "be readily apparent" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "appear distinctly" or "appears distinctly"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "appear distinctly" with plural subjects and "appears distinctly" with singular subjects. For example, "The differences appear distinctly" versus "The difference appears distinctly".

What's the difference between "appear distinctly" and "appear different"?

"Appear distinctly" emphasizes clarity and definition, while "appear different" simply indicates a difference in appearance without necessarily implying clarity. "The objects appear distinctly" suggests they are clearly visible and defined, while "The objects appear different" only suggests a difference without implying that they are easily seen.