combination appears to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "combination appears to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the perceived nature or effect of a combination of elements, ideas, or factors. Example: "The combination appears to enhance the overall performance of the system."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

This club and swim combination appears to be a favorite of Payne's; he used it again in the same game.

The Washington Post

But creating that combination appears to have provoked a little culture clash between G.M. and A. M. General, the military contractor that sold the Hummer brand to G.M. and assembles the vehicle for it.

The New York Times

This combination appears to hurt their cause in the 1980s — as easy as it is now to see the enemies of "The Gates" as tiresome philistines, it's also clear that the artists were unprepared or unwilling to deal with the strong and genuine feelings about Central Park that their project stirred up.

The New York Times - Arts

Indeed, in preclinical tumor vaccine models, the combination of a TLR9 agonist and CTLA4 blockade led to improved rejection of established tumors through complementary mechanisms: the effect of anti-CTLA4 mAbs is largely dependent on CD4+ T cells, whereas the effect of the combination appears to be mediated by CD8+ T cells (Davila et al., 2003; Daftarian et al., 2004).

Nature

So far, the combination appears to have done the trick.

Forbes

The combination appears to have modest activity in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

A ray of sunlight is composed of many wavelengths that in combination appear to be colourless.

Britannica

Conversely, the SAR/5′HS4 insulator combination appeared to increase the homogeneity of EGFP expression in mass cultures.

Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases

In addition, these drug classes, separately and in combination, appear to have vasculoprotective properties.

American Journal of Hypertension

In the most recent results, Tsien found that when the mice recalled long-term memories while the protein was overexpressed in their brains, the combination appeared to selectively delete those memories.

MIT Technology Review

A three-gene combination appeared to be the most effective; with Xa21 contributing the largest component of resistance.

Rice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "combination appears to", ensure the subject clearly identifies what is being combined. This improves clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "combination appears to" when you have definitive proof. This phrase suggests observation or preliminary assessment rather than established fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "combination appears to" functions as a hedge, softening a statement about the effect or nature of something. As seen in Ludwig, it indicates that a conclusion is based on observation but might not be definitively proven.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "combination appears to" is a useful tool for expressing an observed effect or outcome that isn't definitively proven. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct, although relatively uncommon. It functions as a hedge, softening statements and indicating interpretations based on available evidence. Its usage spans neutral to formal registers, commonly found in scientific and news contexts, where expressing cautious conclusions is valued. When writing, ensure the subject of the combination is clear and avoid using this phrase when you have definitive proof. Alternatives like ""seems to be"" and ""suggests"" can provide similar nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the blend seems to

Changes "combination" to "blend" and "appears" to "seems", offering a slightly less formal tone.

the mix suggests

Replaces "combination" with "mix" and "appears" with "suggests", implying an indication rather than a direct observation.

the merging implies

Substitutes "combination" with "merging" and "appears" with "implies", focusing on the act of merging and its consequences.

the fusion indicates

Uses "fusion" instead of "combination" and "indicates" instead of "appears", giving a more technical or scientific feel.

the merging seems to

Replacing combination with merging and appears with seems to is a less formal alternative.

this synergy suggests

Uses "synergy" to emphasize the interaction within the combination and replaces "appears" with "suggests."

the compound gives the impression of

Replaces combination with compound and uses a more verbose way to describe the effect.

the synthesis creates the impression of

Changes "combination" to "synthesis" and uses a more descriptive way to express the perceived effect.

the union seems to

Replacing combination with union and appears with seems to is a less formal alternative.

the amalgamation looks like

Substituting combination with amalgamation changes the register into a slightly more elevated and elaborate one.

FAQs

How can I use "combination appears to" in a sentence?

You can use "combination appears to" to express a perceived effect or outcome resulting from the interaction of two or more elements. For example, "The combination of these treatments "appears to" be effective".

What are some alternatives to "combination appears to"?

Alternatives include "seems to be", "suggests", or gives the impression of depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "combination appears to be" formal or informal?

"Combination appears to" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. For more informal situations, you might consider "seems like" or "looks like".

What's the difference between "combination appears to" and "combination is"?

"Combination appears to" indicates an observation or a preliminary conclusion, while "combination is" suggests a confirmed fact. Use "combination appears to" when you want to convey a degree of uncertainty or observation.