doesn't seem correct

USAGE SUMMARY

'doesn't seem correct' is an acceptable phrase in written English and can be used to either express doubt or disagreement.
For example: "The answer that the student provided doesn't seem correct."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, Mr. Mishra's description of American power as "waning" doesn't seem correct; it waned long ago.

The New York Times

Unfortunately this contention — that considerations of accuracy over the whole set of answers which the two theories give will sort them into the right ranking — doesn't seem correct, at least as it stands.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But this does not seem correct.

SEP

Referring to a slide from the training program that seemed to indicate federal statutes and presidential Executive Orders (EOs) carry equal legal weight, Snowden wrote, "this does not seem correct, as it seems to imply Executive Orders have the same precedence as law.

Vice

d) The analogy with true FCS measurements does not seem correct – again at least as explained.

eLife

It does not seem correct to discuss a trend that is not substantiated by statistics (particularly compared to the statistics of the other experiments presented in the paper).

eLife

Furthermore, for some studies the reported units or measures for variation (SEM) did not seem correct in view of the expected ranges and assumptions were made for correction (Granger et al., 1982; Falsetti et al., 1987; White et al., 2005).

Human Reproduction Update

As the location of the midbrain activity varied a little between the subjects, more than the location of the thalamus activity, we chose to alter the position of the midbrain VOI manually, if it did not seem correct.

BMC Psychiatry

If they do not seem correct, try to find the problem by replacing it with what you (or an English professor), would have said instead.

WikiHow

Of the likely finalists, the first seed, Justine Henin, has the most sophisticated game — and a bracing one-handed backhand that's a joy to watch — but she's not very generous, on the court, and it's horrible to hear the TV guys pronouncing her last name "enna" for two weeks, which, even if correct, doesn't seem right.

The New Yorker

Correct, but it didn't seem right that I was being kept out their lives on the holidays.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doesn't seem correct", ensure the context provides a clear reason for your doubt or skepticism. This strengthens your statement and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "doesn't seem correct" as a default response without providing any supporting evidence or reasoning. This can weaken your argument and make you appear dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doesn't seem correct" functions as a qualifier, expressing doubt or uncertainty about the accuracy or validity of a statement, idea, or piece of information. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

12%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doesn't seem correct" is a common and grammatically acceptable way to express doubt or disagreement in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, from news articles to scientific discussions. While it's a versatile phrase, it's important to use it thoughtfully, providing justification for your skepticism to avoid appearing dismissive. Alternatives like "doesn't appear to be correct" or "seems questionable" can add nuance to your expression of doubt, depending on the specific context. When employing the phrase, the context often leans towards news, scientific discussions, and general content found on wikis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doesn't appear to be correct

Replaces "seem" with "appear", emphasizing the visual aspect of the assessment.

doesn't strike me as correct

Adds a personal perspective, indicating a subjective feeling about the correctness.

doesn't sound right

Focuses on the auditory aspect, suggesting the statement is incorrect based on how it sounds.

doesn't look correct

Focuses on the visual aspect, suggesting the statement is incorrect based on how it looks.

doesn't hold up

Implies the statement fails under scrutiny or testing.

doesn't quite add up

Suggests there's a logical inconsistency or missing information.

seems questionable

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective expressing doubt.

appears to be flawed

Indicates the existence of a defect or weakness in the statement.

is probably incorrect

Uses "probably" to indicate a degree of uncertainty about the correctness.

might not be accurate

Expresses a possibility that the information is not correct.

FAQs

How can I use "doesn't seem correct" in a sentence?

You can use "doesn't seem correct" to express doubt or disagreement about something. For example, "The answer that the student provided "doesn't seem correct"."

What can I say instead of "doesn't seem correct"?

You can use alternatives like "doesn't appear to be correct", "doesn't sound right", or "seems questionable" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "does not seem correct" or "doesn't seem correct"?

"Doesn't seem correct" is a contraction of "does not seem correct". Both are grammatically correct, but ""doesn't seem correct"" is more informal and commonly used in spoken and written English.

What's the difference between "doesn't seem correct" and "isn't correct"?

"Doesn't seem correct" implies a degree of uncertainty or doubt, while "isn't correct" is a more direct and definitive statement. Use ""doesn't seem correct"" when you have reasons to believe something is wrong but are not entirely certain.