appears to have worked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appears to have worked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the effectiveness or success of an action or method that seems to have produced a positive result. Example: "The new marketing strategy appears to have worked, as we have seen a significant increase in sales this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Dutoit appears to have worked work well in guest appearances with other ensembles, notably the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The New York Times - Arts

The pressure appears to have worked.

The New York Times

The campaign appears to have worked.

The New York Times

That warning appears to have worked.

The New York Times

The strategy appears to have worked.

The New York Times - Sports

The law appears to have worked.

The New York Times

His strategy appears to have worked.

The New York Times

But it appears to have worked.

The Guardian - Business

That scorched-earth strategy appears to have worked.

Independent

Avis's last-minute maneuver appears to have worked.

The New York Times

That appears to have worked, at least a little.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appears to have worked", ensure that you have some evidence or observation to support the claim, even if it's not definitive proof. This adds credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "appears to have worked" when there is definitive proof of success or failure. The phrase implies a degree of uncertainty, so choose a more direct expression when certainty exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears to have worked" functions as a stative verb phrase expressing a judgment or assessment about the likely success of something. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appears to have worked" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something seems to have been successful, although without complete certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous real-world examples. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for a wide range of contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. When using the phrase, ensure there's some evidence to support the claim and avoid it when the outcome is definitively known. For alternative phrasing, consider "seems to have been effective" or "seems to have succeeded".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to have been effective

Replaces "appears" with "seems" and "worked" with "been effective", maintaining a similar level of certainty.

seems to have succeeded

Substitutes "worked" with "succeeded", indicating a positive outcome or accomplishment.

appears to be successful

Replaces "have worked" with "be successful", focusing on the current state of success.

seems to be yielding results

Replaces "worked" with "yielding results", emphasizing the production of positive outcomes.

appears to be paying off

Substitutes "have worked" with "be paying off", suggesting that an effort is producing benefits.

looks like it was effective

Uses a more informal tone, replacing "appears" with "looks like" and "worked" with "was effective".

gives the impression of success

Focuses on the perception of success rather than directly stating it.

suggests a positive outcome

Highlights the suggestion of a favorable result, rather than a confirmed success.

evidence suggests it was effective

Adds a layer of evidential support, indicating that evidence points towards effectiveness.

seems to have borne fruit

Replaces "worked" with "borne fruit", employing a metaphorical expression to denote the realization of positive results.

FAQs

What does "appears to have worked" mean?

The phrase "appears to have worked" indicates that something seems to have been successful or effective, but there is not absolute certainty about the outcome. It suggests a positive result based on available evidence.

What can I say instead of "appears to have worked"?

You can use alternatives like "seems to have been effective", "seems to have succeeded", or "appears to be successful" depending on the context.

How do I use "appears to have worked" in a sentence?

Use "appears to have worked" when you want to suggest that a particular strategy, method, or action has likely resulted in a positive outcome. For instance: "The new marketing campaign appears to have worked, as sales have increased significantly."

Is "appears to have worked" formal or informal?

"Appears to have worked" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal or academic writing, consider using more precise language to describe the observed outcome.