appeared to express

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appeared to express" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone's feelings, thoughts, or intentions that seem to be conveyed through their words or actions. Example: "Her tone of voice appeared to express a sense of disappointment despite her reassuring words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

During the television appearance, McVey also appeared to express her disapproval of negative Conservative ads about the Labour leader, Ed Miliband.

The Guardian

This was ensured by carefully searching for different key terms and expressions that appeared to express a self-contained meaning from a psychological perspective[ 21] (p 53) to the experience of the abuse and its consequences.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Although the clear majority of GFP-expressing root events appeared to express GFP homogeneously, formation of chimeric roots was occasionally observed.

BMC Plant Biology

Intriguingly, three of the isolates appeared to express the cluster genes constitutively, whereas expression was induced in F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici NRRL 34936 only after exposure to 30 mM cyanate.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Our data demonstrated an apparent difference in the expression of LRIG1 in chromophobe RCC, which appeared to express more LRIG1 than conventional or papillary RCC.

British Journal of Cancer

Many types of cells appeared to express TREM2, including mononuclear cells in lymphoid aggregates and fibroblasts with expression significantly greater than all other groups (Table 2).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Dcx-positive neuroblasts overall appeared to express less Panx1 than NSC/NPCs immediately proximal to the ventricle, suggesting that Panx1 expression decreases with differentiation.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Mr. Putin appeared to express optimism.

The New York Times

Mr. Brown appeared to express some sympathy for that view.

The New York Times

Meanwhile juror B37 appeared to express regret for pursuing a book deal.

The Guardian

Kerry appeared to express frustration with the failure of both sides to make progress.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: Is it more appropriate to use a more direct verb if the expression was clear and unambiguous?

Common error

Avoid using "appeared to express" when directly quoting someone. Direct quotes already indicate what someone explicitly said, so phrases like "said", "stated", or "remarked" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appeared to express" functions as a verb phrase that qualifies a statement. It indicates that an action, emotion, or thought was seemingly conveyed but not explicitly stated. According to Ludwig AI, it’s a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appeared to express" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate an inferred or indirect communication of thoughts, feelings, or intentions. It is deemed correct by Ludwig AI and is most frequently found in "News & Media" and scientific contexts. Alternatives such as "seemed to indicate" or "gave the impression of expressing" offer nuanced variations for more precise communication. When writing, it's best to use "appeared to express" to describe what can be inferred by action or words rather than direct statement, being careful not to overuse it when directly quoting someone. Overall it is considered a neutral phrase that has a large usage in various source types.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seemed to indicate

This alternative is less direct and emphasizes the perceived indication rather than a clear expression.

suggested an expression of

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the potential or possibility of an expression.

conveyed a sense of expressing

Focuses on the conveyance of a feeling or sensation that something is being expressed.

gave the impression of expressing

This alternative focuses on the impression created, suggesting a subjective interpretation of the expression.

portrayed an emotion through expression

This alternative highlights the use of emotion in the expression.

looked as if to express

This phrase emphasizes the visual aspect and the appearance of expressing something.

manifested an intention to express

This is a more formal and deliberate phrasing, implying a conscious effort to express something.

showed signs of expressing

This alternative highlights the subtle signs or indicators of an impending expression.

intimated an expression of

Similar to 'hinted at', but slightly more formal and subtle.

hinted at expressing

This suggests a subtle or indirect form of expression.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "appeared to express" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "seemed to indicate", "suggested an expression of", or "manifested an intention to express" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's a simpler way to say "appeared to express"?

Simpler alternatives include "seemed to say", "looked like", or "gave the impression" which are less formal and easier to understand.

In what contexts is it best to use "appeared to express"?

"Appeared to express" is useful when describing subtle or indirect communication, where the speaker or subject hasn't explicitly stated something but their actions or words suggest it. It's suitable for both formal and informal writing when you want to avoid making a definitive statement.

Is "appeared to express" interchangeable with "tried to express"?

No, "appeared to express" indicates that an emotion or thought was seemingly conveyed, whereas "tried to express" implies an attempt was made, regardless of whether it was successful. The former focuses on the outward impression, while the latter focuses on the intent.