appear to malfunction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to malfunction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that seems to be not functioning properly or is not working as intended. Example: "The device may appear to malfunction, but it is actually just in need of a software update."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Others said they had seen a speaker fall over and appear to malfunction.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And even that satellite appeared to malfunction days or hours after reaching space, said Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

The Washington Post

During "Runaway," the MPC that had been brought out on stage for Mr. West to play appeared to malfunction.

The New York Times - Arts

But also because he appeared to malfunction midway through the heated contest when the subject of Britain's insurmountable debt came up.

Independent

Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru focused her attention on the Welsh vote, Nick Clegg spent a lot of time apologising and Nigel Farage did his best impression of a shouty man in a pub, claiming the politicians around him were "all the same" and appearing to malfunction when anyone mentioned a number.

Independent

In another incredible moment, one of the attackers' guns appears to malfunction just as he's aiming it at a woman.

HuffPost

In a short video of the stunt, Fred makes some light small talk with bar patrons about Westworld, the weather, and the impending robot apocalypse, before he appears to malfunction and smash a pint glass inside his herculean robot fist.

Vice

The safety agency says in its report that an initial evaluation indicates the reports of stalling or surging appear to be related to a malfunction that puts the engine in a "limp-home" mode.

The New York Times

After a witness to the accident said the signal appeared to have malfunctioned, a lawyer for Mr. Lopez's family arranged with Union Pacific in October 2001 to inspect the signal.

The New York Times

However, by making a comparison with multiple reference station records, we could deduce that the ground motion at TYS was observed correctly and that the TMR instrumentations appeared to be malfunctioning.

Earth, Planets and Space

The three retrieved receivers that did not work appeared to have malfunctioned due to programming error, such that instead of just ignoring the transmitter paired with the receiver on the same shark, all transmitters were ignored.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appear to malfunction", ensure that you provide context or evidence to support the observation. State what makes you believe the item is not functioning correctly.

Common error

Avoid using "appear to malfunction" when you have definitive proof of a malfunction. The phrase indicates a perceived issue, not a confirmed one. If confirmed, use "is malfunctioning" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to malfunction" functions as a hedge, softening a claim about something not working correctly. It suggests a perception rather than a confirmed fact. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appear to malfunction" is used to describe something that seems to be not functioning properly. It is grammatically correct and usable in written English, serving as a hedge to soften a claim about something not working correctly. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While not extremely common, it finds use in both news reporting and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you provide context or evidence to support the observation, and avoid using it when you have definitive proof of a malfunction. Related phrases include "seem to be malfunctioning" and "appear to be faulty".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to be malfunctioning

Changes the verb "appear" to "seem" and uses the continuous form of "malfunction".

appear to be faulty

Replaces "malfunction" with the adjective "faulty", indicating a defect.

seem to break down

Uses the phrasal verb "break down" instead of "malfunction", implying a cessation of function.

look like it's not working

Informal phrasing, replacing "appear" with "look like" and "malfunction" with "not working".

appear to be defective

Substitutes "malfunction" with "defective", highlighting an inherent flaw.

give the impression of malfunctioning

Adds a more descriptive and formal tone by using "give the impression of".

present as malfunctioning

Uses "present as" to indicate how something is perceived.

show signs of malfunction

Focuses on the observable indicators of a problem rather than the malfunction itself.

appear to be out of order

Uses the common phrase "out of order" to describe a non-functional state.

seem to have a problem

A more general way to express that something isn't working correctly.

FAQs

How can I use "appear to malfunction" in a sentence?

You can use "appear to malfunction" to describe something that seems to not be working correctly. For example, "The device may "appear to malfunction", but it is actually just in need of a software update."

What are some alternatives to "appear to malfunction"?

Alternatives include "seem to be faulty" or "look like it's not working", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "appear to malfunction" or "seem to malfunction"?

Both "appear to malfunction" and "seem to malfunction" are fairly neutral. "Appear" is generally considered slightly more formal than "seem", but the difference is minimal.

What's the difference between "appear to malfunction" and "is malfunctioning"?

"Appear to malfunction" indicates an observation or impression, while "is malfunctioning" states a fact. Use "appear to malfunction" when you suspect a problem but don't have conclusive evidence.