does appear to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "does appear to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an observation or perception that something seems to be the case, often with a degree of uncertainty. Example: "The data does appear to support the hypothesis, but further analysis is needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Business does appear to be heating up.

The New York Times

It does appear to be true.

The Guardian - Opinion

She does appear to be genuinely scared.

The Guardian - Opinion

Confidence does appear to be contagious.

The Guardian - Sport

And there does appear to be reason for optimism.

The New York Times - Travel

And it really does appear to have started by accident.

The Guardian

Baghdad does appear to have become the jihadists' favorite destination.

The New York Times

So the Telegraph does appear to out on its own.

The Guardian

"That increase does appear to be meaningful," Mr. Bunin said.

The New York Times

Mr. Trimble said: "It does appear to break new ground.

The New York Times

The march does appear to have rattled pro-government politicians.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "does appear to" when you want to express an observation with a degree of certainty, but without making an absolute claim. It is suitable for scenarios where further investigation might be needed.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "does appear to", as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "seems to be" or "suggests that" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "does appear to" functions as an epistemic marker, indicating the speaker's assessment of the likelihood or truth of a statement. It expresses a degree of certainty or confidence in a proposition. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

34%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "does appear to" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey an impression or assessment based on available information, without asserting absolute certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is frequently encountered in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While generally neutral in register, careful consideration should be given to avoid overuse and maintain stylistic variation by employing alternatives such as "seems to be" or "suggests that".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to be

This alternative directly replaces "does appear to" with a more common synonym.

appears to be

This option removes the emphasis provided by "does" while maintaining a similar level of formality.

would seem to be

This option adds a hypothetical element, making the statement slightly more tentative.

suggests that

This phrase is more inferential, implying evidence points towards a conclusion.

indicates that

Similar to "suggests that", this emphasizes the presence of signs or signals.

it would seem that

A more formal way of expressing that something seems likely.

it is likely that

Directly states the probability of something happening or being true.

it is probable that

Similar to "it is likely that", but suggests a higher degree of certainty.

one might conclude

This phrase emphasizes the act of drawing a conclusion based on observation.

it can be inferred that

Focuses on the ability to deduce something from available information.

FAQs

How can I use "does appear to" in a sentence?

The phrase "does appear to" is used to express an observation or perception that something seems to be the case. For example, "The evidence "does appear to" support the claim, but further research is necessary."

What are some alternatives to "does appear to"?

You can use alternatives like "seems to be", "appears to be", or "suggests that", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct: "does appear to" or "appears to"?

Both "does appear to" and "appears to" are grammatically correct. "Does appear to" adds emphasis, whereas "appears to" is a more neutral statement.

What's the difference between "does appear to" and "seems to"?

While both indicate a perception, "does appear to" often implies a more considered judgment based on available information, whereas "seems to" can be a more immediate or superficial impression.