it appears like

USAGE SUMMARY

"it appears like" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something seems to be the case. For example: "It appears like the weather is going to be sunny tomorrow."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

MTV News' James Montgomery wrote that "it appears like [the music video] was custom-made for the YouTube generation, which probably explains why making homages became a worldwide phenomenon".

Wikipedia

The Moneys wound up in Lotus, "the worst place in the world, worse than any battlefield," according to Frank, to whom it appears, like its Greek counterpart, devoid of aspiration, cramped by suffocating indifference.

The New York Times - Books

Point-of-care US in the hands of non-radiologists is a method that has gained scientific support over the last decade and it appears like its use will continue to expand in the ED environment [4, 22 26].

Critical Ultrasound Journal

The rebranding means that Nokia's name is no longer attached to its maps product, likely across the spaces where it appears, like Windows Phone 8.

TechCrunch

But it appears like they can".

The New York Times - Arts

I don't know what it appears like.

The New York Times

And it appears like a bright band on the sky.

Cornell University

He does not, it appears, like to be challenged.

The Guardian

"At this point, it appears like he's O.K".

The New York Times - Sports

"Certainly [Christensen] got elected in his seat but it appears like he is running the government.

The Guardian

Because the CME headed in STEREO A's direction, it appears like a giant halo around the sun.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In less formal contexts, "it looks like" is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Common error

Avoid using "it appears like" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for "it appears that" to maintain a professional and grammatically sound tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it appears like" functions as a hedging device, softening assertions by indicating a perception or impression rather than a definitive statement. Ludwig AI shows its usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it appears like" is a common phrase used to express an impression or observation, often with a degree of uncertainty. Ludwig AI data indicates it's prevalent in news, academic, and wiki content. While widely used, especially in informal contexts, "it appears that" is generally considered more grammatically precise. The phrase functions as a hedging device, softening assertions. For formal writing, consider alternatives to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems as if

Replaces "appears" with "seems" and adds "as if" for a slightly more formal tone.

it looks like

Substitutes "appears" with "looks", offering a more visual and informal connotation.

it would seem that

Emphasizes the speaker's interpretation or deduction, rather than a straightforward appearance.

it gives the impression of

Highlights the subjective feeling or impression conveyed.

it has the appearance of

A more formal and descriptive alternative focusing on outward presentation.

one might think

Suggests a possible, though not definite, conclusion.

it is suggestive of

Indicates that something implies or hints at a particular idea or outcome.

the evidence suggests

Directly references evidence as the basis for the appearance.

it points to the possibility of

Highlights a potential outcome or explanation.

it is conceivable that

Indicates something is possible or believable.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct alternative to "it appears like"?

The phrase "it appears that" is generally considered more grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing.

When is it acceptable to use "it appears like"?

It's acceptable in informal settings or conversational speech. However, for formal writing, consider using "it seems that" or "it appears that".

Is there a difference in meaning between "it appears like" and "it looks like"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable, with "it looks like" being slightly more informal and visually oriented.

How can I improve my writing style when using phrases like "it appears like"?

Try to use stronger, more direct verbs to convey your meaning. For example, instead of "It appears like it will rain", you could say "Rain is likely" or "The forecast predicts rain".