appears not to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"appears not to be" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to express that something does not seem to be the case. For example: "The results of the audit appear not to be accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And Aviva appears not to be overpaying.

The Economist

Such appears not to be its practice.

Cornell University

Alas, it appears not to be.

The New York Times

Geography, though, appears not to be her strong suit.

The New York Times

Happily this appears not to be the case.

The Guardian - Film

So far, that appears not to be the case.

The New York Times

It appears not to be a joke at all.

The Guardian - Music

But if he does, he appears not to be telling.

The Guardian - Opinion

One problem: It appears not to be true.

The Washington Post

The repair mechanism appears not to be made of DNA.

The New York Times

The owl's plight appears not to be confined to Britain.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appears not to be" to express a tentative conclusion based on available evidence, suggesting that something may not be the case without absolute certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "appears not to be" when you have definitive proof or evidence. In such cases, opt for stronger statements like "is not" or "does not".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears not to be" serves as a hedge, softening a negative assertion. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It expresses a tentative conclusion based on available information, implying that something may not be the case.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appears not to be" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express a tentative negative assertion. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's correct for use in written English. It is often used across news, scientific, and formal contexts. While it conveys uncertainty, it's essential to avoid using it when definite proof exists. Consider alternatives such as "does not seem to be" or "is apparently not" to fine-tune your expression. Remember to use it when conveying a suggestion based on observation, not definitive proof.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not seem to be

Replaces "appears" with "seems", offering a slightly less formal tone.

does not appear to be

Uses "does not appear" instead of "appears not", changing the word order for emphasis.

is apparently not

Emphasizes the observation of something not being the case.

is seemingly not

Indicates that something gives the impression of not being something.

is evidently not

Highlights the clarity or obviousness of something not being so.

proves not to be

Indicates that something has been shown not to be the case.

turns out not to be

Suggests a discovery that something is not as initially thought.

is found not to be

Implies an investigation or analysis leading to a negative conclusion.

is understood not to be

Refers to a shared understanding or agreement that something is not a certain way.

is presumed not to be

Suggests something is not something based on assumption.

FAQs

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

Use "appears not to be" to express a tentative conclusion based on observation or available information. For example, "The data "appears not to be" conclusive enough to support the hypothesis".

What are some alternatives to "appears not to be"?

You can use alternatives such as "does not seem to be", "is apparently not", or "is seemingly not" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "appears not to be" instead of "is not"?

Use "appears not to be" when you want to convey uncertainty or a lack of definitive proof. "Is not" is more suitable when you have solid evidence.

Is "appears not to be" formal or informal?

"Appears not to be" is generally considered neutral to formal. In very informal contexts, phrases like "doesn't look like" might be more appropriate.