appear to be acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to be acceptable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when assessing or evaluating something that seems to meet certain standards or criteria. Example: "The proposed changes to the policy appear to be acceptable to the majority of the committee members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Within the guidance, it would appear to be acceptable as teaching has finished and yet there were rumblings of discontent when this situation recently arose at my university department.

The Guardian

The psychometric properties of the French version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 appear to be acceptable after a critical analysis of all psychometric properties.

Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée-European Review of Applied Psychology

These data indicate that the poor performance of an LC/MS/MS system could adversely affect the calculated concentrations of unknown samples even though the results for quality control samples appear to be acceptable.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

Detailed studies need to be conducted to assess the possible uses of porous silicon/silica in food products, but from an organoleptic perspective these materials would appear to be acceptable at moderate concentrations and microparticle size distributions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Such errors do not appear to be acceptable for reliably detecting hypoglycemia.

Diabetes Care

Therefore both short and long plate working length constructs would appear to be acceptable for clinical applications.

BMC Veterinary Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

They said that the plan appeared to be acceptable to both the Assembly and the Senate.

The New York Times

Mr. Schultz's appointment also appears to be acceptable to Bavaria's arts minister, Hans Zehetmair, who was drawn into a squabble with Mr. Wagner over his refusal to step down.

The New York Times

Mr. Marini appeared to be acceptable to the center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, and centrist parties loyal to the caretaker prime minister, Mario Monti.

The New York Times

The defence of one appears to be acceptable and the other not, even though the sentiments behind protecting one's own culture — be it language or your local butcher — can often emerge from the same place.

The Guardian

The error that the proposed formulation represents appears to be acceptable even when the comparison is done for near-field accelerograms where the drift demand is substantial.

Engineering Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appear to be acceptable" when you want to convey a sense of provisional approval or assessment based on available evidence, without making a definitive judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "appear to be acceptable" when you have conclusive evidence; opt for stronger terms like "is definitively acceptable" to reflect certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to be acceptable" functions as a qualifying expression, indicating a tentative assessment or provisional judgment. It suggests that something meets a certain threshold of approval based on available information. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appear to be acceptable" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey a tentative or provisional assessment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it suggests that something meets a certain standard without definitively committing to its full endorsement. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase strikes a neutral-to-formal tone, offering a nuanced way to express satisfaction while acknowledging potential uncertainties. Alternatives such as ""seem to be adequate"" or ""look to be satisfactory"" can be used to tailor the expression to specific contexts. When using the phrase, it is important to avoid overstating certainty when conclusive evidence is lacking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to be adequate

Replaces "acceptable" with "adequate", suggesting sufficiency rather than just acceptance.

look to be satisfactory

Uses "look" instead of "appear" and "satisfactory" instead of "acceptable", implying a visual assessment of satisfaction.

prove to be satisfactory

Suggests that something has been tested and found satisfactory.

deem to be permissible

Formally indicates that something is considered allowable.

turn out to be fine

Indicates a positive resolution or outcome.

come across as adequate

Describes the impression something gives off as being sufficient.

be seen as tolerable

Suggests that something is viewed as bearable or endurable.

measure up to expectations

Implies that something meets or exceeds pre-defined standards.

pass muster

Idiomatically expresses that something has met the necessary requirements.

hold up to scrutiny

Indicates that something remains acceptable even under close examination.

FAQs

How can I use "appear to be acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use "appear to be acceptable" to express that something seems to meet the required standards or criteria, as in, "The proposed solution "appears to be acceptable" to all parties involved."

What are some alternatives to "appear to be acceptable"?

Alternatives include "seem to be adequate", "look to be satisfactory", or "prove to be satisfactory", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "appear to be acceptable" versus "is acceptable"?

"Appear to be acceptable" suggests a tentative or provisional assessment, while "is acceptable" indicates a definite or confirmed status. Use "appear to be acceptable" when the assessment is based on initial impressions or incomplete information.

Is "appears to be acceptable" more formal than "seems to be acceptable"?

Both phrases are generally interchangeable, but "appears to be acceptable" might be perceived as slightly more formal due to the use of "appears" over "seems". The difference is minimal and context-dependent.