felt to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "felt to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, and its intended meaning is unclear without additional context. Example: "He felt to be the best candidate for the job." (This is incorrect; it should be rephrased.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It felt to her lighter than cobweb.

The New Yorker

It felt to me like the weather".

The New York Times - Books

That's how it felt to me, anyway.

The New Yorker

That is how it felt to me.

The Guardian

How has that felt to you?

The Guardian - Books

This felt to me both less tangible and more concrete.

The New York Times

There was something of that, she felt, to reading.

The New York Times - Books

"She felt to me like an open wound," she says.

Independent

"It felt to me like a fear thing".

The New Yorker

It always felt to me like a flaw.

The New York Times

Writer tells how it felt to be an accused criminal.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "felt to" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives such as "seemed to", "appeared to", or "was considered to be" to convey your intended meaning.

Common error

Don't let informal speech patterns creep into formal writing. While "felt to" might sound acceptable in casual conversation, it lacks the precision and grammatical correctness expected in professional or academic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "felt to" functions as a subjective perception marker, indicating how something was perceived or experienced. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not considered grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

55%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "felt to" is relatively common, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase should be avoided in formal writing in favor of clearer alternatives such as "seemed to", "appeared to", or "was considered to be". Its prevalence across news and media, science, and wiki sources suggests a somewhat informal usage. Therefore, writers should exercise caution and prioritize grammatical correctness and clarity in their writing, opting for the suggested alternatives to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seemed to

Replaces "felt to" with a more standard verb of perception, indicating an impression or appearance.

appeared to

Similar to "seemed to", this suggests that something gave the impression of being a certain way.

was considered to be

Indicates a judgment or opinion held by someone, replacing the direct feeling.

was thought to be

Similar to "was considered to be", it expresses a belief or opinion about something.

was believed to be

Suggests a widely held belief, rather than a personal feeling.

struck me as

Replaces "felt to" with a more idiomatic expression of personal impression.

impressed me as

Indicates that something made a particular impression on the speaker.

gave the impression of

Focuses on the impression something created, rather than a direct feeling.

seemed like

A more informal way of saying "seemed to", indicating an apparent quality.

looked like

Focuses on the visual appearance, replacing the feeling with a perceived likeness.

FAQs

Is "felt to" grammatically correct?

No, "felt to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "seemed to", "appeared to", or "was considered to be".

What can I say instead of "felt to"?

You can use alternatives such as "seemed to", "appeared to", "was thought to be", or "struck me as" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "felt to"?

While "felt to" appears in various sources, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. It might be acceptable in very informal contexts or colloquial speech, but it's generally safer to use more standard alternatives.

What's the difference between "felt to" and "seemed to"?

"Felt to" is generally considered non-standard. "Seemed to" is a grammatically correct alternative that conveys a similar meaning of something giving a particular impression. Use "seemed to" for clarity and correctness.