appeared likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appeared likely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or outcome that seems probable or expected based on available information. Example: "Given the recent trends in the market, it appeared likely that the company would see an increase in sales this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Still, passage in that chamber appeared likely.

The New York Times

This comet never appeared likely to fall apart.

Harvard University

No magazines appeared likely to close, one source said.

The New York Times

He appeared likely to be confirmed as the bureau's director.

The New York Times

It appeared likely that migratory populations of C. burrovianus also wintered in northern Colombia (Koester 1982).

Cornell University

Shares of Diageo rose 2.4percentt yesterday as an agreement appeared likely.

The New York Times

When plans for the restaurant were announced, it appeared likely to be an instant success.

The New Yorker

California district judge Lucy Koh said on Tuesday that Apple's lawsuit appeared likely to prevail.

The Guardian - Tech

They appeared likely to outnumber blacks in the state as early as this year.

The New York Times

He added that not that many cases appeared likely to meet the criteria.

The New York Times

If anything, he appeared likely to someday invite a woman to be an Augusta National member.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "appeared likely" with specific contextual details to enhance clarity. For example, instead of saying "It appeared likely", specify "Given the data, it appeared likely that sales would increase".

Common error

Avoid using "appeared likely" when you possess definitive evidence. This phrase is appropriate when expressing an informed opinion or assessment, not when presenting confirmed facts. If the outcome is known with certainty, use phrases like "was confirmed" or "was established" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appeared likely" primarily functions as a qualifier, expressing a degree of probability or expectation based on available information. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English. Examples from the provided data show its usage across various contexts to indicate something seemed probable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appeared likely" is a versatile expression used to convey a sense of probability or expectation based on available information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media, but also appears in academic and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "seemed probable" or "looked likely" exist, "appeared likely" offers a balanced and widely accepted way to express reasoned assessments without overstating certainty. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the evidence at hand and avoids presenting informed opinions as confirmed facts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seemed probable

Focuses more on the estimation of probability based on evidence.

looked likely

Similar to "appeared likely" but can imply a more visual assessment.

was expected

Suggests a higher degree of certainty based on anticipation.

was anticipated

More formal than "appeared likely", also suggests prior expectation.

was probable

Directly states the likelihood of an event occurring.

was liable

Implies a negative consequence is likely to happen.

was poised to

Suggests readiness or preparation for something to happen.

was on track to

Indicates progress toward a predicted outcome.

was apt to

Indicates a natural tendency or inclination.

was in line to

Expresses that something is in a sequential position to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "appeared likely" in a sentence?

You can use "appeared likely" to indicate that something seemed probable based on the available information. For example, "It appeared likely that the negotiations would succeed." It's often followed by a "that" clause to specify what seemed probable.

What can I say instead of "appeared likely"?

You can use alternatives like "seemed probable", "looked likely", or "was expected" depending on the context. These alternatives offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

Which is correct, "appeared likely" or "seemed likely"?

Both "appeared likely" and "seemed likely" are correct and often interchangeable. "Appeared" might suggest a more visual or superficial assessment, while "seemed" can imply a deeper evaluation. However, in most contexts, the difference is negligible.

What's the difference between "appeared likely" and "was likely"?

"Appeared likely" suggests a judgment based on available evidence at a specific point in time, implying a degree of uncertainty or assessment. "Was likely" indicates a stronger sense of probability or a conclusion that something was probable. The former is more tentative.