appear to be missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"appear to be missing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are suggesting that something is missing. For example, "Several pages appear to be missing from this report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A child is disemboweled; women's throats are cut; several victims appear to be missing brains.

The New York Times

Even instances of rock 'n' roll genesis appear to be missing the necessary big bang.

The New York Times - Books

Now that American planes are striking them, some Northern Alliance leaders say the bombs appear to be missing their targets.

The New York Times

There were no signs of forced entry at the apartment, nor did anything appear to be missing, investigators said.

The New York Times

Although many key documents appear to be missing, some are useful and will form the basis of a congressional report.

The New York Times

Détente and diplomacy appear to be missing from the gospel according to Representative Ryan and Governor Romney.

The New York Times - Magazine

Substantial gaps in perspectives exist between the local governments and their building community; in particular, the reward systems for promoting CASBEE appear to be missing or misplaced.

Building and Environment

During the upgrade, there will be times when your site may not be available, or may appear to be missing features.

Columbia University

They've also found that certain factors required for healthy cell growth appear to be missing from the urine, a discovery that could lead to a new therapy.

Harvard University

Millions of White House e-mail messages created from 2003 to 2005 appear to be missing and may not be recoverable.

The New York Times

You could say that official targets appear to be missing their angle for 'orbital insertion' by more than enough to crash the climate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appear to be missing" when you want to express that something is likely absent or has not been found, but without making a definitive statement. This is particularly useful when the absence might be due to oversight or incomplete information.

Common error

Avoid using "appear to be missing" when you have concrete evidence of something being definitively absent. In such cases, a more direct statement like "is missing" or "is absent" is more appropriate and accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to be missing" functions as a hedge, softening a statement about something being absent. It expresses a tentative observation rather than a definitive declaration. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

40%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appear to be missing" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a likely absence or lack of something without stating it as a definitive fact. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse sources such as News & Media, Science and Academia. When writing, it's essential to avoid overstating the absence as a fact. Alternative phrases like "seem to be absent" or "appear to be lacking" can be used depending on the specific context. By understanding its nuances and appropriate usage, you can effectively communicate potential absences in a clear and professional manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to be absent

Focuses on the absence of something, similar to missing, but emphasizes a noticeable lack.

appear to be lacking

Indicates a deficiency in something, highlighting that something is not fully present or adequate.

appear to be omitted

Stresses the act of leaving something out intentionally or unintentionally.

seem to be excluded

Highlights that something is not included, similar to omitted, but with a stronger emphasis on exclusion.

are apparently absent

Emphasizes that something is clearly not present, using "apparently" to denote an obvious absence.

seem to be unavailable

Focuses on the inaccessibility of something, suggesting it cannot be found or obtained.

appear to be deficient

Highlights a shortfall or inadequacy, emphasizing that something is not up to the required standard.

are seemingly gone

Emphasizes the disappearance of something, indicating it is no longer present or visible.

seem to be lost

Indicates that something is not only absent but also possibly unrecoverable.

appear to be wanting

Highlights that something is needed or desired but not present.

FAQs

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

You can use "appear to be missing" to suggest something is absent without definitive proof. For instance, "Several files "appear to be missing" from the archive" indicates a likely absence but leaves room for the possibility they might be misplaced.

What's the difference between "appear to be missing" and "seem to be missing"?

"Appear to be missing" and "seem to be missing" are nearly interchangeable. Both suggest something is likely absent based on observation or evidence. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference.

What can I say instead of "appear to be missing"?

Alternatives include "seem to be absent", "appear to be lacking", or "seem to be unavailable", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "appear to be missing" in formal writing?

Yes, "appear to be missing" is suitable for formal writing. It's a neutral and professional way to indicate a likely absence without making an absolute claim. Its usage is frequent in academic and professional contexts, such as reports and articles.