it appears to be that

USAGE SUMMARY

"it appears to be that" is an acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express a conjectural sense of something that appears to be true, but that is not confirmed or proven. For example, "It appears to be that the new policy is having a positive effect on employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

And it appears to be that way for all sorts of reasons, some of them his own doing — his weird flair for testing baseball's boundaries, his lavish contracts — and some, well, just because he is who he is.

The New York Times - Sports

In so far as the US president has any enduring belief, it appears to be that disruption is a good in and of itself: that throwing everyone else off-balance must benefit the world's only superpower, as one official has suggested (his colleague had a cruder characterisation).

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately, it appears to be that way.

Huffington Post

What is more, it appears to be that case that some Islamist insurgents have become increasingly hostile towards polio vaccination campaigns as a result of the counterinsurgency strategies of domestic governments and international actors.

Globalization and Health

Insofar as the claim has been flushed out, it appears to be that the department is entitled to conduct its investigations into mistakes such as this entirely on its own (it has referred the matter to its own inspector general) with no role for Congress at all.

Huffington Post

In some scenes, from some angles, it appears to be that of a 12-year-old boy.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It appeared to be that of Blackbeard, the self-proclaimed "devil's brother" who was said to have forced a captive to eat his own ears.

The New York Times

Ultimately, it increasingly appears to be that universal health care is the only solution.

Los Angeles Times

No longer will our desktops need those damned multi-card slots, making the face of it appear to be that of a pimply teenager.

TechCrunch

It appeared to be that a nested PCR approach was necessary to detect NC10 bacteria in the WWTPs sludge samples.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

In keeping with previously reported findings (Perrault et al., 2007), it appeared to be that of a severe cone-rod type retinal dystrophy.

Human Mutation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it appears to be that" to introduce a statement when you want to convey a sense of observation or deduction, but without asserting absolute certainty. This is particularly useful in academic or analytical writing where acknowledging potential uncertainty is important.

Common error

Avoid using "it appears to be that" when the evidence is conclusive. This phrase introduces doubt, so opt for more assertive language if the facts are definitively established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it appears to be that" functions as an introductory clause that signals a conclusion or assessment based on available information. It softens the assertion, indicating that the speaker is presenting an informed opinion rather than an absolute fact. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it appears to be that" is a versatile phrase used to introduce statements that are based on observation or inference rather than definitive proof. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for a range of formal and neutral contexts. Its frequent use in news, science, and academic writing highlights its utility in expressing informed opinions with a degree of caution. While effective for conveying tentativeness, it should be avoided when absolute certainty is warranted. Remember to consider context and choose the most appropriate phrasing to accurately reflect the strength of your claim.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems that

Replaces "appears to be" with "seems", indicating a similar level of perception or observation.

it would seem that

Adds a conditional "would" to "it seems that", suggesting a slightly more tentative conclusion.

it would appear that

Similar to "it seems that" but uses "appear" instead, maintaining a formal tone.

it is evident that

Replaces "appears to be" with "is evident", indicating a stronger sense of certainty.

it is clear that

Similar to "it is evident that", conveying a high degree of certainty and obviousness.

it is likely that

Indicates a probability rather than a direct observation, making it a slightly weaker claim.

it suggests that

Implies that something indicates a particular conclusion, rather than directly stating it.

it indicates that

Similar to "it suggests that", focusing on the indicative nature of the evidence.

one can infer that

Shifts the focus to the act of inferring, suggesting a conclusion drawn from evidence.

the evidence suggests that

Highlights the role of evidence in forming a conclusion, adding a layer of objectivity.

FAQs

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

Use "it appears to be that" to introduce a statement that seems likely based on available evidence, but isn't definitively proven. For example, "It appears to be that the new policy is improving employee satisfaction."

What are some alternatives to "it appears to be that"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it seems that", "it would appear that", or "it is evident that", depending on the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

Is it more formal to say "it appears that" or "it appears to be that"?

"It appears to be that" adds a slightly more emphatic tone compared to "it appears that", but both are generally suitable for formal contexts. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When should I avoid using "it appears to be that"?

Avoid using "it appears to be that" when the evidence is conclusive and you can state a fact with certainty. Using it in such cases can unnecessarily weaken your statement.