appearance of soundness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appearance of soundness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the perception or impression of being sound, stable, or reliable, often in contexts like arguments, theories, or structures. Example: "The appearance of soundness in his argument was undermined by the lack of evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Fallacy, in logic, erroneous reasoning that has the appearance of soundness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As Mary McCarthy pointed out in an essay on theatrical realism, Miller's faulty airplanes are like Ibsen's "coffin ships, rotten, unseaworthy vessels caulked over to give an appearance of soundness... a symbol of the inner rottenness of bourgeois society".

The New Yorker

Ultimately, Kant will also seek to reveal the very specific formal fallacies that vitiate the metaphysical arguments, to demonstrate that (although they have the appearance of soundness) the positions in each case are implicitly grounded in, or deploy, dialectical uses of terms and concepts, misapplications of principles, and conflations of appearances with things in themselves.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The natural forces and agents of weathering have degrading effect on the appearance and structural soundness of Kota stone.

Building and Environment

Some experts say that thoroughbreds have been bred for winning at the expense of soundness.

The New York Times - Sports

Early housing standards provided for improved ventilation, sanitation, reduced crowding, structural soundness, lighting, and other habitability criteria, partly as a response to the appearance of concentrated slum housing around factories and big cities during the industrial revolution [ Riis 1890; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDCC) 1976].

Environmental Health Perspectives

appearance of professionalism.

WikiHow

Relevance of study question; Appropriateness of qualitative method; Transparency of procedures; Soundness of interpretive approach.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

He tries to convince people of the soundness of his views.

The New Yorker

In its ranking of the "soundness" of banks, America fell to 108th position, behind Tanzania.

The Economist

If bidders felt qualms about the soundness of such an investment, the appearances of other figures from the same edition in leading museums — the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and currently the Château de Versailles — must have reassured them.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appearance of soundness" when you want to emphasize that something seems reliable or valid, even if there are underlying doubts or hidden flaws. It's particularly effective in contexts where perception is crucial, like evaluating arguments or assessing structural integrity.

Common error

Avoid using "appearance of soundness" when you want to describe something that actually is sound and reliable. The phrase inherently suggests a potential discrepancy between outward perception and the true state of affairs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appearance of soundness" functions as a noun phrase that typically modifies another noun or serves as a subject complement. It describes a superficial or perceived quality of reliability or validity, rather than an actual, inherent characteristic. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appearance of soundness" describes a superficial quality of reliability, and while grammatically correct, it suggests underlying doubts. Ludwig confirms its acceptability and provides relevant examples from diverse sources. Its usage implies caution and calls for deeper scrutiny, rather than accepting things at face value. As shown in the examples, authoritative sources like Encyclopedia Britannica and The New York Times employ it to denote potentially misleading impressions of stability and validity. Remember to use it when you want to highlight that something seems sound, but further investigation is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

semblance of validity

Focuses on the surface-level impression of being valid or correct.

illusion of stability

Highlights the deceptive nature of a seemingly stable state.

guise of robustness

Emphasizes a deceptive outward show of strength and resilience.

veneer of credibility

Implies a thin, often misleading, layer of believability.

facade of dependability

Underscores the superficial nature of an impression of reliability.

pretense of trustworthiness

Highlights the insincere nature of a claimed reliability.

show of resilience

Focuses on the outward display of the ability to recover quickly from difficulties.

air of invulnerability

Suggests a misleading impression of being immune to harm or failure.

outward show of strength

Emphasizes that the strength being referred to is superficial.

mere suggestion of soundness

Highlights the tentative and uncertain nature of the impression of soundness.

FAQs

How can I use "appearance of soundness" in a sentence?

You can use "appearance of soundness" to describe something that seems reliable but might not be. For example, "The fallacy in logic has the "appearance of soundness" but is actually flawed."

What are some alternatives to "appearance of soundness"?

Alternatives include "semblance of validity", "illusion of stability", or "guise of robustness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "appearance of soundness" or "state of soundness"?

"Appearance of soundness" suggests a superficial or potentially misleading impression, while "state of soundness" implies an actual condition of being sound and reliable. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the context.

What does it mean when an argument has the "appearance of soundness"?

When an argument has the "appearance of soundness", it means the argument seems valid or logical on the surface, but may contain hidden flaws or fallacies that undermine its actual validity. It requires careful examination to determine its true worth.