it does not seem that

USAGE SUMMARY

"it does not seem that" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express doubt. For example, "It does not seem that we can solve this problem without help from a professional."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On balance it does not seem that soy and its constituent isoflavones have met original expectations.

Environmental Health Perspectives

It does not seem that Castle ever learned to write.

The New York Times - Arts

Neither, now, is true — or, rather, it does not seem that way.

The New York Times - Sports

Granted, to many in the House, it does not seem that way.

The Economist

Except that it does not seem that way to most people.

The Guardian - Opinion

There have been times when it does not seem that way.

The New York Times - Sports

It does not seem that long ago that optimism flowered about prospects for democracy and sustained economic development on a worldwide scale.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Upon first glance it does not seem that way.

Forbes

It does not seem that Haldane effect has played an important role in our study.

Annals of Intensive Care

The tragedy is that it does not seem that things will change in our lifetime.

Huffington Post

It does not seem that unlikely in a world where a "pussy-grabber" becomes President of the United States.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it does not seem that" to introduce a statement of uncertainty or doubt, especially when you want to soften a disagreement or express a tentative conclusion. For example, "It does not seem that this approach will yield the desired results, given the current data."

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "it does not seem that". Over-reliance on this phrase can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "it appears unlikely" or "the evidence suggests otherwise".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it does not seem that" functions as a hedging device, used to express uncertainty, doubt, or a tentative assessment. As noted by Ludwig, it softens statements and avoids strong assertions. It introduces a proposition with a degree of skepticism or reservation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

37%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it does not seem that" is a versatile phrase used to express doubt, uncertainty, or a tentative assessment. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English and it’s often employed to soften claims or disagreements. While highly prevalent in news, scientific, and academic contexts, it's crucial to vary sentence structure to prevent redundancy. Alternatives like "it is unlikely that" or "it does not appear that" can provide stylistic diversity. With a neutral register and widespread applicability, "it does not seem that" serves as a valuable tool for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it does not appear that

Replaces "seem" with "appear", offering a slightly more formal tone.

it doesn't look like

Uses a more informal phrasing with "look like" instead of "seem that".

it is unlikely that

Expresses a low probability, focusing on likelihood rather than appearance.

it is doubtful that

Highlights uncertainty and doubt about a situation.

it is questionable whether

Raises a question about the certainty of something.

it's not evident that

Shifts the focus to the lack of evidence or clarity.

it cannot be said that

Indicates that something cannot be definitively stated or confirmed.

there's no indication that

Focuses on the absence of signs or evidence.

evidence suggests otherwise

Presents a conflicting view based on available evidence.

the situation suggests

Replaces the explicit expression of doubt with the observation that the state of affair provides cues.

FAQs

How can I use "it does not seem that" in a sentence?

You can use "it does not seem that" to express doubt or uncertainty about a situation. For example, "It does not seem that the project will be completed on time" or "It does not seem that they are aware of the problem".

What are some alternatives to "it does not seem that"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it does not appear that", "it is unlikely that", or "it is doubtful that". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it doesn't seem that" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it doesn't seem that" is a grammatically correct contraction of "it does not seem that" and is commonly used in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "it does not seem that" and "it seems that"?

"It does not seem that" expresses doubt or a lack of certainty, while "it seems that" suggests an apparent truth or likelihood. For example, "It does not seem that they will arrive today" implies doubt, whereas "it seems that they will arrive today" suggests they probably will.