appears not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appears not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something does not seem to be the case or is not evident. Example: "The solution to the problem appears not to be as straightforward as we initially thought."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It appears not.

The New York Times

It appears not yet, anyway.

Independent

But it appears not.

The Guardian - Sport

That loyalty appears not to count.

Independent

She appears not to agree with it.

The Economist

And Aviva appears not to be overpaying.

The Economist

But IKB appears not to have known.

The New Yorker

Shakira appears not to perspire.

The New York Times - Magazine

He appears not to care.

The Guardian

Peke appears not to hear.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At first it appears not.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appears not" to express a cautious disagreement or a lack of confirmation, especially when you don't have definitive proof.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessively using "appears not" can make your writing sound hesitant. Opt for stronger, more direct statements when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears not" functions primarily as a negating verb phrase. It expresses a lack of evidence or confirmation for a preceding statement or assumption. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appears not" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase, mainly in neutral contexts such as news and media. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is valid. It serves to express doubt or a lack of confirmation cautiously. While widely accepted, it is advisable to consider more direct alternatives in certain contexts. The phrase is most often found in "News & Media", but is also present, although less frequently, in "Science", "Formal & Business", "Wiki", "Encyclopedias" and "Reference". When writing, you should try to err on the side of direct language to avoid the impression of uncertainty, when that's not the intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Does not seem to be

Emphasizes a lack of indication or evidence.

Does not appear to be

A more formal alternative with similar meaning.

Seems not to be

Inverts the structure while maintaining the core meaning.

Is not evident

Focuses on the absence of clear signs or evidence.

Is not apparent

Highlights the lack of obviousness.

Fails to show

Indicates a lack of successful demonstration or proof.

Gives no indication

Highlights the absence of any suggestive signs.

Offers no evidence

Stresses the lack of supporting information.

Belies the notion

Indicates a contradiction or disproof of a prior assumption.

Contradicts the idea

Directly opposes a previously held belief or concept.

FAQs

How can I use "appears not" in a sentence?

Use "appears not" to express that something does not seem to be the case based on available information. For example, "The solution to the problem "appears not" to be as straightforward as we initially thought."

What are some alternatives to "appears not"?

You can use alternatives like "does not seem to be", "is not evident", or "seems not to be" depending on the context.

When is it better to use "does not seem" instead of "appears not"?

While both phrases are similar, "does not seem" might be preferred in more informal contexts or when you want to sound less hesitant than ""appears not"" might convey.

Is "appears not to be" different from "appears not"?

The phrase "appears not to be" is more explicit and often used when referring to a specific state or condition. "Appears not" can be used more generally to negate an assumption or expectation.