appears to be spreading

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appears to be spreading" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that seems to be increasing or becoming more widespread, such as a trend, disease, or idea. Example: "The new social media challenge appears to be spreading rapidly among teenagers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meanwhile, the strife appears to be spreading.

The New York Times

That, said Heymann, showed "it appears to be spreading".

The Guardian

Far from shrinking away, organised religion appears to be spreading.

The Guardian - Books

Opposition to Sullivan's ouster appears to be spreading.

The Washington Post

This model appears to be spreading to the West.

The Economist

The arts bug appears to be spreading further.

Independent

Radiation contamination, meanwhile, appears to be spreading rapidly.

The New York Times

The impact of the suicides appears to be spreading.

The New York Times

Unfortunately this practice of false balance appears to be spreading to politically neutral media outlets.

The Guardian

The unrest appears to be spreading, albeit on a smaller scale, to urban centres.

The Guardian

More worrying is that the threat of terrorism appears to be spreading across the UK.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appears to be spreading", ensure the context provides sufficient evidence or observation to support the claim, avoiding unsubstantiated generalizations.

Common error

Avoid using "appears to be spreading" when the evidence is anecdotal or based on limited data. Use qualifiers like "may" or "potentially" to indicate uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears to be spreading" functions as a verb phrase indicating a perceived ongoing action or process. It suggests that based on observation or available information, something seems to be becoming more widespread. Ludwig confirms this is appropriate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appears to be spreading" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe a trend, phenomenon, or entity that seems to be increasing in scope or prevalence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it conveys an observation or assessment, often with a degree of uncertainty. While alternatives like "seems to be expanding" or "is becoming more prevalent" exist, "appears to be spreading" offers a neutral and widely accepted way to express the idea of something becoming more widespread.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is becoming more prevalent

Highlights the increasing commonness of something.

is increasingly common

Directly states the growing frequency of something.

seems to be expanding

Focuses on the idea of growth or enlargement rather than just dispersal.

is on the rise

Indicates an upward trend or increase in frequency or occurrence.

looks to be proliferating

Suggests rapid increase or reproduction, often used for biological or digital contexts.

is taking hold

Suggests something is establishing itself and becoming firmly rooted.

is gaining traction

Emphasizes increasing popularity or acceptance of an idea or trend.

is extending its reach

Focuses on the expansion of influence or coverage.

is making inroads

Implies gradual progress and penetration into new areas.

is catching on

Implies increasing popularity or adoption, often in a cultural or social context.

FAQs

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

You can use "appears to be spreading" to describe a trend, disease, or idea that seems to be becoming more common or widespread. For example, "The new social media challenge "appears to be spreading" rapidly among teenagers".

What are some alternatives to "appears to be spreading"?

Alternatives include "seems to be expanding", "is becoming more prevalent", or "is on the rise" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "appears to spread" instead of "appears to be spreading"?

While "appears to spread" might be grammatically understandable, ""appears to be spreading"" is the more common and natural phrasing to indicate an ongoing process.

What is the difference between "appears to be spreading" and "is spreading"?

"Appears to be spreading" implies a degree of uncertainty or observation, suggesting that something seems to be increasing based on available evidence. "Is spreading" states the fact more directly, implying stronger evidence.