appear plausible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear plausible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing whether something seems reasonable or believable based on the information available. Example: "The theory proposed by the scientist appears plausible given the recent evidence collected from the experiments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Unfortunately, there are no experimental data to compare with for this case, but the results appear plausible.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

When we were finally readmitted to the courtroom, Leventhal continued his examination of Schnall, who now had permission to read Strauss's remarks, and who continued to appear plausible and neutral.

The New Yorker

But most businessmen and bankers resisted such steps.Mr Thaksin took their side, arguing that many investments that looked worthless and loans that looked unserviceable when the economy was stagnant would appear plausible once growth picked up again.

The Economist

Past extractions of large trees and incessant removal of small timber appear plausible reasons for the low height.

Forest Ecosystems

That said, STEAM may also include creative, imagined problems embedded in problem scenarios that may not appear plausible but serve to assist students in conceptualizing and solving the larger, authentic problem.

International Journal of STEM Education

The problem is that there are typically various ways to partition logical space that appear plausible given the problem at hand, and that not all of them lead to the same prior probability assignment, even assuming the Principle of Indifference.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The rest, they say, could therefore be WIMPs.Statistically, the result appears plausible.

The Economist

The real trouble for France is that the story even appeared plausible in the first place.

The Economist

Size alone is not enough, but it sure appears plausible that a failure of MetLife could cause problems.

The New York Times

Goals on 89 minutes and in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave Spain a draw that never appeared plausible.

The Guardian - Sport

All sorts of transformations appeared plausible in the mock restaurant with the paper napkins slipped daintily inside the glasses.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appear plausible", ensure the context provides some basis for the plausibility. Avoid using it for claims that are purely speculative without any supporting evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "appear plausible" to present an idea as definitely true. It indicates a degree of uncertainty, not a confirmed fact. Use stronger language for certainties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear plausible" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. Ludwig AI indicates its role in expressing an assessment of something as believable or likely, but not definitively proven. Examples show it often qualifies theories, explanations, or estimates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

21%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appear plausible" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that seems believable or likely based on available information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It is most frequently used in scientific and news-related contexts, and to a lesser extent in academic discussions. When writing, remember that "appear plausible" indicates a degree of uncertainty and shouldn't be used to present confirmed facts. Alternatives like "seem credible" or "seem reasonable" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem credible

Replaces "appear" with "seem" and "plausible" with "credible", focusing on believability.

seem reasonable

Replaces "appear" with "seem" and "plausible" with "reasonable", emphasizing logical coherence.

appear credible

Substitutes "plausible" with "credible" indicating believability and trustworthiness.

appear reasonable

Replaces "plausible" with "reasonable" implying logical and justifiable nature.

seem likely

Changes "plausible" to "likely", focusing on the probability of something happening or being true.

appear likely

Replaces "plausible" with "likely", suggesting a high probability.

sound feasible

Substitutes both words focusing on whether something is achievable or practical.

sound viable

Focuses on the capacity of something to function or develop adequately.

hold water

An idiomatic expression meaning to seem sound or logical.

ring true

Implies that something seems genuine or authentic.

FAQs

How to use "appear plausible" in a sentence?

You can use "appear plausible" to describe a theory, explanation, or scenario that seems believable or likely based on the available information. For example, "The detective's theory about the suspect "appears plausible" given the evidence at the crime scene".

What can I say instead of "appear plausible"?

You can use alternatives like "seem credible", "seem reasonable", or "appear likely depending on the specific context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is it better to say "appear plausible" or "seems plausible"?

Both "appear plausible" and "seems plausible" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice often depends on personal preference or the flow of the sentence. "Appears plausible" might be slightly more formal.

What does it mean when something "appear plausible"?

When something ""appears plausible"", it means it seems believable, reasonable, or likely to be true based on the available information or evidence. It suggests a degree of credibility but doesn't necessarily confirm its absolute truth.