appear to be gone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to be gone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something seems to be missing or no longer present. Example: "After searching the entire house, the keys appear to be gone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Those days appear to be gone.

Independent

Mr. Petraeus's discretion and relentless work ethic have had a positive side for him: old tensions with Mr. Obama, which grew out of differing views on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, appear to be gone.

The New York Times

I have been attending musicals for 40 years and it is unfortunate that the days of shows like "Oklahoma," "South Pacific" and "My Fair Lady" appear to be gone forever.

The New York Times

So Mr. Cosby in his prime, with his winning looseness, would appear to be gone -- except that a whole company of actors seems to have absorbed Mr. Culp's canny strategy for holding his own against Mr. Cosby.

The New York Times

Swipe gestures on a 'per cel' basis appear to be gone as well.

TechCrunch

MSQRD offered lenses that put Obama and Snoop "masks" over your face — but the lenses appear to be gone, post-Facebook acquisition (it still has a "rasta" lens that doesn't change skin color).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

These appear to be going nowhere.

The New York Times

"Whites appear to be going further out".

The New York Times

Mr. Harrison doesn't appear to be going anywhere.

The New York Times - Books

"They appear to be going after Japan," Mr. Koo said.

The New York Times

Ergo the employment number will appear to be going up.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appear to be gone" to indicate a state of absence or disappearance, often implying a sense of surprise or finality. Ensure the context clearly establishes what is missing or has disappeared. For example, "After the storm, the beach appeared to be gone."

Common error

Avoid using "appear to be gone" when something is merely temporarily misplaced. The phrase suggests a more permanent or significant absence. For example, saying "My keys appear to be gone" when you haven't thoroughly searched implies a greater loss than may be the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to be gone" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a state of absence or disappearance based on observation or available evidence. According to Ludwig, it suggests that something is missing or no longer present.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appear to be gone" is a descriptive phrase used to indicate that something seems to be missing or no longer present, based on observation or available evidence. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, fitting in many contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it carries a neutral tone. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context is clear about what has vanished or is absent. While similar to phrases like ""seem to be missing"" or ""look to be absent"", it implies a more significant or possibly permanent absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to have vanished

Emphasizes a sense of disappearance or vanishing without a trace.

appear to have disappeared

Similar in meaning, but specifies the action of disappearing.

seem to be missing

Focuses on the state of being absent or not found.

look to be absent

Highlights the visual impression of something not being present.

appear to be no more

Implies the end of something's existence.

seem to have faded away

Suggests a gradual disappearance or decline.

appear to be extinct

Implies complete disappearance and the impossibility of return.

seem to be lost

Indicates uncertainty about the location or fate of something.

look to be irretrievable

Emphasizes the impossibility of recovering something.

appear to have departed

Suggests a formal or permanent leaving or absence.

FAQs

What does "appear to be gone" mean?

The phrase "appear to be gone" signifies that something seems to be missing, has disappeared, or is no longer present. It implies that based on available evidence, the thing in question is absent.

When is it appropriate to use "appear to be gone"?

It is appropriate to use "appear to be gone" when you want to express that something seems to have vanished or is absent. It's suitable when you're describing a state where something is noticeably missing, and you're basing this conclusion on observation. It is similar to "seem to have vanished".

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

Alternatives to "appear to be gone" include phrases like "seem to be missing", "look to be absent", or "appear to have disappeared". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "appear to be gone" differ from "is gone"?

"Appear to be gone" indicates a perception or assumption based on available evidence, while "is gone" is a statement of fact. The former suggests a degree of uncertainty or observation, while the latter indicates definitive knowledge. For example, "The money appear to be gone" means that the money seems to be missing even if you did not investigate in detail, but "The money is gone" is a statement of fact.