appears to be trying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appears to be trying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone's actions or efforts that seem to indicate they are making an attempt at something. Example: "She appears to be trying her best to meet the project deadline despite the challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Torres appears to be trying.

The New York Times - Sports

Those challenges are what Mr. Samaras appears to be trying to tame.

The New York Times

Mr. Netanyahu, for his part, appears to be trying to cover all political bases.

The New York Times

Beijing appears to be trying to convey a carefully balanced message.

The New York Times

SharesPost appears to be trying to do the right thing by putting more information out there.

The New York Times

And, he contended, it appears to be trying to poach independent pharmacies.

The New York Times

The ad appears to be trying to look like Google's automatic correction tool.

Independent

Mr. Scott's staff appears to be trying to counter the negative press.

The New York Times

Saudi Arabia appears to be trying to make up with Egypt as well.

The New York Times

The latest to join the fray – Grassroots Out – appears to be trying to split the difference.

Independent

Instead, it appears to be trying to scare off any prospective investors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appears to be trying", consider whether adding specific details about the actions or context would strengthen your statement. For example, instead of "He appears to be trying", try "He appears to be trying to fix the engine, judging by the tools scattered around him".

Common error

Avoid stacking too many subjective qualifiers with "appears to be trying". Phrases like "It seems that he appears to be trying" can sound redundant and weaken your writing. Choose the strongest qualifier and use it effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears to be trying" functions as a hedged assessment of someone's actions or efforts. It expresses an observation with a degree of uncertainty. As Ludwig AI underlines, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, indicating that it follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

4%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appears to be trying" is a versatile phrase used to express an observation about someone's efforts with a touch of uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the context and whether more specific details would strengthen your statement. While the phrase is generally neutral, avoid redundancy by overusing subjective qualifiers. Remember that while it shares a similar meaning with phrases like "seems to be attempting" or "looks like they are attempting", the specific nuance of observation and tentativeness might subtly influence your choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to be attempting

Emphasizes the impression or observation of an attempt, using "seems" instead of "appears".

looks like they are attempting

Uses "looks like" for a more visual or immediate assessment of the attempt.

gives the impression of attempting

Focuses on the impression conveyed by the actions, highlighting the indirect evidence of the attempt.

is seemingly endeavoring

Replaces "appears" with "seemingly" and "trying" with the more formal "endeavoring".

presents as though attempting

Highlights the presentation or outward appearance of the attempt.

gives every indication of attempting

Stresses the strength of the evidence suggesting an attempt.

is giving the impression of striving

Uses "striving" to emphasize effort and ambition in the attempt.

seems to be making an effort

Focuses directly on the "effort" being made, rather than the uncertain attempt.

is observed to be attempting

Highlights the act of observing the attempt, adding a layer of detachment.

is understood to be attempting

Emphasizes a shared understanding or interpretation of the actions as an attempt.

FAQs

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

"Appears to be trying" is used to describe someone's actions when they seem to be making an effort, but the outcome is uncertain. For example, "The company "appears to be trying" to innovate, but their efforts are not yet successful."

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

You can use alternatives like "seems to be attempting", "looks like they are attempting", or "is seemingly endeavoring" depending on the formality and context.

Is "appears to be trying" formal or informal?

"Appears to be trying" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "is seemingly endeavoring" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

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

While both phrases are very similar, "appears to be trying" often suggests a more visual or observable basis for the judgment, whereas "seems to be trying" can be based on a broader range of evidence or intuition. They are largely interchangeable, though the nuance might subtly influence the choice in specific contexts.