appears to be flawed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appears to be flawed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an observation or assessment that something seems to have a defect or issue. Example: "After reviewing the data, it appears to be flawed, which may affect our conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"What regulation there is now appears to be flawed.

The Guardian - Money

However, a significant fraction of gene models appears to be flawed by, for example, incorrect splice site placement, missing exons, or improper merging or splitting of adjacent coding regions.

BMC Genomics

However, this finding appears to be flawed, as closer examination of the sequences used in construction of the dendrogram shows that they include a mixture of partial VP1 gene sequences and 5′ UTR sequences from (occasionally) the same strain.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A group of reviewers, whom the society refuses to name, concluded after examining incomplete data that it appeared to be "flawed in many aspects of design, execution and analysis".

The Guardian

None of them seems even to have found life's path, much less to have stumbled along its way, and their actions thus do not appear to be flawed but entirely in character (it's the nature of fools to be foolish).

The New York Times - Books

Johnson says that groups registering voters are legally required to submit all applications, even if they appear to be flawed.

Vice

In the same respect, other eye-witness identifications appear to be flawed or tainted by improper influence and suggestion.

Huffington Post

A test by the Guardian on Friday revealed what appeared to be flaws in the technology, which works by collecting personal details from the problem gamblers who sign up and sharing the information with websites so that they can lock those customers out.

The Guardian

"Indeed the reasoning set out therein appears to be fundamentally flawed.

The Guardian - Sport

All models lacked predictive power; none firmly established the roles of fluid shear and particle volume fraction in determining solute diffusion; and one, the product of a widely quoted review appears to be fundamentally flawed.

Chemical Engineering Science

Deisboeck [ 13] observed (p. 2) that "the status quo strategy in medical practice is as simple as it now appears to be intrinsically flawed: carefully assess a patient's symptoms to diagnose his specific disease patterns only to then treat it with a protocol that is based on the assumption that most interpersonal characteristics are rather inconsequential for treatment outcome".

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appears to be flawed" to express a tentative assessment of a defect, indicating that further investigation might be needed to confirm the flaw.

Common error

Avoid using "appears to be flawed" when you have definitive proof of a defect. In such cases, use stronger, more direct language like "is flawed" or "has a defect".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears to be flawed" functions as a evaluative expression. It predicates a subject and attributes it with a quality (flawed) qualified by an epistemic hedge (appears). It reflects an assessment based on available information, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appears to be flawed" is a versatile expression used to convey a tentative assessment of a defect or imperfection. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and finds it in a variety of sources. With a neutral tone, this phrase is suitable for different types of writing styles. While widely applicable, it's best to reserve for those occasions when you cannot or do not want to be definitive about the presence of a flaw. Consider using stronger language like "is flawed" in situations that require a higher degree of confidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to be defective

Replaces "appears" with "seems" and "flawed" with "defective", indicating a similar but slightly stronger degree of certainty about the flaw.

looks to be erroneous

Uses "looks" instead of "appears" and "erroneous" instead of "flawed", suggesting an error is evident upon observation.

suggests a defect

Expresses the idea of a flaw more indirectly, using "suggests" to indicate the presence of a defect.

gives the impression of being imperfect

Emphasizes the impression created by the flaw, using more descriptive language.

presents as faulty

Focuses on how something presents itself, implying a flaw in its functionality or construction.

evidences imperfection

Highlights the evidence supporting the existence of the flaw, using more formal vocabulary.

exhibits shortcomings

Indicates that something demonstrates limitations or deficiencies.

reveals deficiencies

Implies the discovery of flaws that were previously hidden.

has the semblance of imperfection

Emphasizes the outward appearance of being flawed, though not necessarily confirmed.

portrays a negative attribute

Generalizes the concept of a flaw, indicating that something has a negative quality or characteristic.

FAQs

How can I use "appears to be flawed" in a sentence?

You can use "appears to be flawed" to express that something seems to have a defect or issue, for example: "The data "appears to be flawed", so we need to re-evaluate our analysis".

What can I say instead of "appears to be flawed"?

Alternatives include "seems to be defective", "looks to be erroneous", or "suggests a defect", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "appears to be flawed" or "is flawed"?

"Appears to be flawed" indicates a tentative assessment, while "is flawed" is a statement of fact. Choose the phrase that best reflects your level of certainty.

What's the difference between "appears to be flawed" and "seems to be flawed"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable. Both express a tentative assessment, but "seems to be flawed" might imply a slightly stronger degree of certainty based on personal impression.