appears grave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appears grave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation, expression, or condition that seems serious or concerning. Example: "The patient's condition appears grave, and the doctors are discussing the next steps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If the threat appears grave, the problem goes immediately into the center's emergency operating room, where it is attended to by a team of Microsoft engineers, working nearly round-the-clock to analyze the flawed code, anticipate paths of attack, devise a software patch to fix the defect and alert millions of customers of the problem and the patch.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Where Ustad Khan appeared grave, Chaudhuri was affable; where the elder was stately, the younger was active.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mr. Borodin, appearing grave in a blue suit and a gray necktie, said little during his brief appearance in court.

The New York Times

Even angels charming tots equipped with sets of wings may appear, grave ly following the Orthodox priests and churchly banners in frequent ritual processions.

The New York Times

Whether Mr Gingrich turns that into an asset, by appearing grave, informed and presidential, or a liability, by thinking aloud and going off on tangents, is still an open question though we rather suspect the latter.

The Economist

THQ's situation appeared grave enough for Mike Hickey, a Janco Partners analyst, to venture in an interview with the Los Angeles Business Journal that the company's had a 50-50 chance of filing for bankruptcy protection this year.

Los Angeles Times

On its face, Mr. Chen said, the Heywood murder case appears "pretty grave, because it involved a foreigner, and because it has had such a negative impact" politically.

The New York Times

It appears that Graves already has.

Huffington Post

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Charon's obol appears in graves in Sweden, Scania, and Norway.

Wikipedia

The economy appeared in grave danger.

Independent

To me they appear very grave.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appears grave", ensure the context clearly establishes the basis for the apparent seriousness. Providing supporting details strengthens the statement and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "appears grave" in situations where the seriousness is already self-evident. This can make your writing sound redundant or melodramatic. Choose more nuanced language to reflect the specific level of concern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears grave" functions as a qualifier, modifying a subject by indicating a state of apparent seriousness. It connects the subject to a perceived condition, as shown in Ludwig's examples, suggesting the situation warrants concern but is not necessarily definitively confirmed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appears grave" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that conveys a sense of serious concern about a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for describing conditions that seem critical or perilous, although the seriousness might not be definitively confirmed. While not exceedingly common, it is employed across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure that the context provides sufficient justification for the perceived seriousness, and avoid redundancy by choosing more nuanced language when the gravity is already obvious. Alternatives such as "seems serious" or "looks dire" can be used depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems serious

Focuses on the apparent seriousness of the situation.

appears to be serious

A more verbose but equally valid alternative.

looks dire

Emphasizes the severity and hopelessness of the situation.

presents as critical

Highlights the criticality of the condition, often used in medical contexts.

seems critical

Highlights the criticality of the condition, often used in medical contexts.

looks alarming

Focuses on the alarming or frightening aspect of the situation.

is seemingly critical

Similar to 'presents as critical' but with slightly less emphasis.

presents a serious outlook

Emphasizes the future implications of the situation.

appears to be perilous

Suggests immediate danger or risk.

seems fraught with danger

Highlights the presence of danger and potential negative consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "appears grave" in a sentence?

You can use "appears grave" to describe situations that seem serious, such as, "The patient's condition "appears grave", requiring immediate attention" or "The economic situation "appears grave", prompting urgent policy discussions".

What are some alternatives to "appears grave"?

Alternatives include "seems serious", "looks dire", or "presents as critical". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "appears grave" or "is grave"?

"Appears grave" suggests the seriousness is based on current observation and might change. "Is grave" asserts a definite and confirmed state. Use "appears grave" when you want to convey an initial assessment rather than a definitive conclusion.

What is the difference between "appears grave" and "seems serious"?

While both phrases indicate a concerning situation, "appears grave" often implies a more immediate and significant level of concern than "seems serious". "Grave" suggests a potentially life-threatening or highly critical state.