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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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does not seems to be

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'does not seem to be' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express doubt or to talk about something that you think is unlikely to be true. For example: "The meteor shower tonight does not seem to be happening."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

With respect to the small patient sample, precarity does not seems to be associated with hospital mortality or length of stay.

Secondly, we find that under violence in vitro, the self-lock system does not seems to be sufficiently sturdy and can be unlocked.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It does not seem to be working.

News & Media

The Economist

That does not seem to be happening.

News & Media

The New York Times

Completion does not seem to be nigh.

News & Media

The New York Times

Certainly it does not seem to be doing any harm.

That plan does not seem to be working.

News & Media

The Economist

That does not seem to be the case with Herbalife.

News & Media

The New York Times

This does not seem to be correct.

Science

SEP

This does not seem to be valid for CH4.

The answer does not seem to be at hand.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "does not seem to be" instead of "does not seems to be" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using the third-person singular form of the verb "seem" after "does not". The correct form is the base form, "seem". Therefore, always write "does not seem to be" not "does not seems to be".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "does not seems to be" is intended to function as a negative assertion, expressing a lack of indication or evidence. It attempts to convey that something is unlikely or not apparent. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig's examples show the correct form, "does not seem to be".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "does not seems to be" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "does not seem to be". While its intended meaning is generally clear—to express doubt or a lack of evidence—its incorrect grammar undermines its effectiveness, especially in formal writing. Ludwig indicates that the correct phrase is "does not seem to be". Always use the grammatically correct form, and consider alternatives like "does not appear to be" for greater clarity and precision. Although found in a mix of contexts, prioritizing grammatical correctness enhances credibility.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something doesn't appear a certain way?

The correct phrase is "does not seem to be". For example, "That "does not seem to be the case"" is grammatically correct, whereas "does not seems to be" is not.

Is "does not seem to be" formal or informal?

"Does not seem to be" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might prefer "it does not appear to be" or "it would not seem to be".

What are some alternatives to "does not seem to be"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "does not appear to be", "is unlikely to be", or "is doubtful". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "does not seem to be" in a sentence?

You can use "does not seem to be" to express doubt or uncertainty. For example, "The weather "does not seem to be improving" today", or "This "does not seem to be the best strategy"".

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: