it appears to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"it appears to be" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something appears to be a certain way based on what you have seen or heard. For example: "It appears to be raining outside, so I'm going to grab my umbrella."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It appears to be plausible.

BBC

It appears to be buoyant".

The New York Times

It appears to be sandpaper.

The New York Times - Sports

"It appears to be collusion.

The New York Times

"It appears to be both".

The New York Times

It appears to be succeeding, partially.

The New York Times - Sports

"It appears to be a draw.

The New Yorker

But it appears to be rebounding.

The New York Times - Tech

And it appears to be perfectly normal".

The New York Times - Science

Is it what it appears to be?

The New York Times - Arts

It appears to be a tight race.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it appears to be" when you want to convey a sense of observation or deduction, without stating something as a definite fact. This is especially useful when presenting information that is not fully confirmed.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "it appears to be" in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound tentative or lacking in confidence. Vary your phrasing with synonyms like "it seems", "it suggests", or "it indicates" for a more dynamic style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it appears to be" functions as an evidential expression, indicating that a statement is based on observation or inference rather than direct knowledge. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. Examples show its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it appears to be" is a versatile phrase used to express an observation or inference without asserting a definitive fact. As Ludwig AI highlights, the expression is grammatically sound. Its frequency across various sources, particularly in news and media, underscores its broad applicability. While "it seems to be" and "it looks like" serve as useful alternatives, it's essential to avoid overuse for stylistic reasons. Remember to use "it appears to be" when conveying tentative assessments, making it a valuable tool for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems to be

Replaces "appears" with "seems", indicating a similar level of certainty or observation.

it would seem to be

Adds a slightly more formal and tentative tone compared to the original phrase.

it looks like

Uses a more informal and visual-based observation.

it suggests that

Emphasizes that the observation is an indication or hint towards something.

it indicates that

Similar to "suggests that" but may imply a slightly stronger indication.

it gives the impression of being

Highlights the subjective impression or feeling conveyed.

it has the hallmarks of

Focuses on identifying characteristics or typical features.

it is suggestive of

Similar to "suggests that" but with a slightly more nuanced connotation.

one can infer that

Highlights the act of drawing a conclusion based on evidence.

the evidence suggests

Shifts the focus to the available evidence as the basis for the observation.

FAQs

How can I use "it appears to be" in a sentence?

Use "it appears to be" when you want to express an observation or deduction based on available information, such as "It appears to be raining, so I'll take an umbrella" or "It appears to be working, which is a good sign".

What phrases can I use instead of "it appears to be"?

You can use alternatives like "it seems to be", "it looks like", or "it suggests that" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "it appears to be" and "it is"?

"It appears to be" indicates a degree of uncertainty or observation, while "it is" states something as a fact. For example, "it appears to be broken" suggests you think it might be broken, while "it is broken" states definitively that it is broken.

Is "it appears to be" formal or informal?

"It appears to be" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might opt for alternatives like "it would seem to be" or "the evidence suggests".