appear to be safe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to be safe" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the perceived safety of a situation, object, or person, often based on observation or evidence. Example: "After inspecting the area, the team concluded that the structures appear to be safe for occupancy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(Anthropology professors would appear to be safe).

The New Yorker

So twists appear to be safe, provided you keep your back straight.

The New York Times

However, he notes that the seeds appear to be safe, since RSA has said that no customer data was stolen.

The New York Times

Protopic and pimecrolimus also appear to be safe for intermittent long-term use, whereas long-term use of steroids, even topical ones, can be hazardous.

The New York Times - Health

For instance, there are no stipulations of what kind of treats students may bring to class, so birthday cupcakes appear to be safe.

The New York Times

So most workers appear to be safe, and those whose jobs have been chopped have some hope of finding a new position.

The New York Times

Fourteen countries are now using swine flu vaccines and all appear to be safe, said Marie-Paule Kieny, director of vaccine research for the W.H.O.

The New York Times - Health

Additional attenuated vaccine preparations have been developed; though not fully evaluated, they appear to be safe and highly effective and to confer prolonged, if not lifelong, protection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ovarian tissue transplants for women who want to have a baby after cancer treatment appear to be safe and are very successful, according to a team of experts in Denmark, where the procedure is routinely offered.

The Guardian

Critics say that while most of the nutritional supplements appear to be safe, the law has placed the drug agency in a difficult legal hole when it comes to regulating powerful stimulants like ephedra, which acts like amphetamine in speeding up the body's metabolism and has been linked to heart attacks and strokes.

The New York Times

He's also juggling an almost unimaginable array of standards set by the state, by P.C.P. and other processors, and even by his customers, who may say things like, "What are you doing about nitrate runoff?" The canner P.C.P. is running what appear to be safe and clean production lines while producing close-to- natural" tomato produclose-to- naturalnyone close-to- natural

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appear to be safe", ensure that the assessment is based on available evidence or observation, and avoid presenting it as an absolute guarantee of safety.

Common error

Avoid using "appear to be safe" when there is clear evidence to the contrary. This phrase implies a degree of uncertainty, so it's not appropriate when certainty exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to be safe" functions primarily as a linking verb phrase. It connects the subject to a predicate adjective ('safe'), expressing a state or condition that is perceived but not definitively confirmed. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appear to be safe" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a situation where something seems secure based on current observations or available data. As Ludwig AI points out, this expression is suitable for conveying a sense of provisional safety, acknowledging that circumstances can change. While frequently used in scientific and news contexts, as the example sentences display, it's essential to use it judiciously, avoiding overstatements and ensuring the assessment is reasonably supported. Alternatives like "seem secure" and "look to be secure" can provide subtle variations in meaning, depending on the specific context. Remember to use this phrase when you have observations but cannot guarantee absolute safety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem secure

Replaces "appear" with "seem" and "safe" with "secure", indicating a similar level of confidence in safety.

appear harmless

Replaces "safe" with "harmless", highlighting the lack of potential to cause harm.

look to be secure

Uses "look" instead of "appear" and "secure" instead of "safe", suggesting a visual assessment of safety.

seem non-hazardous

Replaces "safe" with "non-hazardous", indicating the absence of potential hazards.

appear risk-free

Replaces "safe" with "risk-free", emphasizing the absence of potential harm or danger.

appear to present minimal risk

Quantifies the level of risk, suggesting that the risk is very low.

seem without danger

Uses "seem" instead of "appear" and rephrases "safe" as "without danger", providing a more descriptive alternative.

look to present no danger

Emphasizes the absence of danger, suggesting a visual assessment of a situation's safety.

look to pose no threat

Focuses on the absence of threat rather than safety, suggesting that something does not present a danger.

seem unlikely to cause harm

Focuses on the low probability of causing harm, offering a more cautious assessment of safety.

FAQs

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

You can use "appear to be safe" to describe something that seems free from danger based on current evidence or observation. For example, "The building structures "appear to be safe" after the inspection".

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

You can use alternatives like "seem secure", "look to be secure", or "appear harmless" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "appear to be safe" or "are safe"?

"Appear to be safe" suggests a degree of uncertainty based on current observation, while "are safe" implies a definite and confirmed state of safety. The choice depends on the level of certainty you want to convey.

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

While both phrases are similar, ""appear to be safe"" often implies a more visual or evidence-based assessment, whereas "seem safe" can be based on a more general impression or feeling.