it appears impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"it appears impossible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express something that seems or looks impossible based on current knowledge or understanding. Example: Despite their best efforts, the team realized that completing the project on time appeared impossible due to various unforeseen challenges.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Looking at the reaction to his new album, it appears impossible to conclude that Simon's best days are behind him.

The Guardian - Music

Part of the family's frustration, Mr. Shuster said — and one reason the lawsuit requests a Hungarian inventory — is that it appears impossible to know just how much art is actually missing.

The New York Times - Arts

Since no play exists without a situation, it appears impossible to detach the idea of a character from the situation in which he is placed, though it may seem possible after the experience of the whole play.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Economiste Francais looks forward to seeing both enterprises carried out, in which case it appears impossible to calculate beforehand which of the two lines may obtain the principal part of the traffic.

The Economist

Still, he concedes that, for now at least, the debate over terroir is unsolvable: "It appears impossible to separate, with any scientific precision, the characteristics of wine derived from nature and those derived from the winemaking process".

The New York Times - Arts

Therefore, it appears impossible to block the binding of HosFn to mouse TfR1 with the antibody used in Chen et al.'s paper.

Protein & Cell

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In one large, firmly wedged section of collapsed floor, it appeared impossible to discern if anyone was trapped underneath, and difficult to imagine that anyone could have survived the impact.

The New York Times

As dusk fell, it appeared impossible to reach the objective or even hold the ground already gained, and the company was ordered to withdraw.

Wikipedia

In several countries it appeared impossible to include 36 practices.

BMC Family Practice

In two countries it appeared impossible to select patients based on coded diagnoses.

BMC Family Practice

As it did not occur that more than two studies used both the same outcome type and the same age categories, it appeared impossible to run a meta-analysis on more than two studies.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it appears impossible" to convey a sense of strong improbability or infeasibility based on the available evidence or understanding at the time. Remember that this doesn't necessarily mean something is impossible, just that it seems that way.

Common error

Avoid using "it appears impossible" when a task is merely difficult or challenging, not genuinely impossible. Overusing this phrase can weaken its impact and credibility. Instead, try using phrases that express difficulty or improbability, such as "it seems unlikely" or "it presents significant challenges".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it appears impossible" primarily functions as an evaluative statement. It expresses a subjective assessment regarding the feasibility of something. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a grammatically correct and commonly used expression. Examples show it used to assess situations ranging from scientific research to political actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it appears impossible" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong sense of improbability or infeasibility, based on current observations or evidence. As Ludwig AI points out, it's versatile enough for use across neutral, formal and scientific contexts. However, to avoid overstatement, use it judiciously when the situation genuinely seems highly unlikely, not merely difficult. Consider alternatives like "it seems impossible" for a subjective tone, or "it is seemingly impossible" when emphasizing the apparent nature of the impossibility. While not highly frequent, this expression carries weight in conveying doubt or pessimism in various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems impossible

Replaces "appears" with "seems", indicating a subjective impression of impossibility.

it looks impossible

Substitutes "appears" with "looks", emphasizing visual perception of impossibility.

it is seemingly impossible

Adds "seemingly" to emphasize that the impossibility is based on current evidence.

it is evidently impossible

Replaces "appears" with "evidently", highlighting the clear and obvious nature of the impossibility.

it proves impossible

Indicates that something has been tested and confirmed to be impossible.

it is not feasible

Uses "not feasible" to suggest that something is not practical or achievable.

it is unachievable

Replaces the whole phrase with the adjective "unachievable" emphasizing the impossibility of achievement.

it is out of the question

Expresses that something is not allowed or worth considering because it is not possible.

it defies possibility

Emphasizes that something is so unlikely that it almost breaks the laws of nature.

it is a lost cause

Indicates that there's no longer any hope of succeeding or achieving something.

FAQs

What does "it appears impossible" mean?

The phrase "it appears impossible" suggests that, based on current information or understanding, something seems not achievable or feasible. It indicates a strong degree of improbability, but it doesn't necessarily mean absolute impossibility.

When should I use "it appears impossible" in my writing?

Use "it appears impossible" when you want to convey that a task or goal faces extreme difficulties, to the point where success seems highly unlikely. It's appropriate when drawing conclusions based on available evidence.

What can I say instead of "it appears impossible"?

You can use alternatives like "it seems impossible", "it looks impossible", or "it is seemingly impossible" depending on the context. Consider the slight nuances in meaning when choosing a substitute.

Is there a difference between "it appears impossible" and "it is impossible"?

"It appears impossible" indicates a judgment based on current observation or understanding, leaving room for potential change. "It is impossible" asserts an absolute and unchangeable condition. The former suggests a subjective assessment, while the latter suggests an objective fact.