it may seem curious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it may seem curious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when introducing a statement or observation that might appear unusual or surprising to the reader. Example: "At first glance, it may seem curious that some animals can hibernate for months without food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

While it may seem curious that Fendi, of all labels, has voiced its condolences, the brand's creative director Karl Lagerfeld has always been a big Winehouse fan, calling her "the new Brigitte" (Bardot, that is) for her iconic hair.

Huffington Post

So it may seem curious that Tina Modotti became one of Mexican Folkways's official photographers.

The Guardian

It may seem curious that shares in London are rising, hours after Britain lost its AAA credit rating.

The Guardian - Business

It may seem curious, but the international community has largely gone along with this exercise in moral relativity.

The New York Times - Magazine

To outsiders, it may seem curious that this Baltic nation of 1.3 million is tying itself to the euro just as the common currency is struggling.

The New York Times

That's a huge, ambitious agenda, one that goes so far beyond the realm of the possible that it may seem curious to even raise it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In retrospect, it may seem odd.

The New York Times

It also wants to make it available on-prem, which may seem curious at first, but Pivotal's Onsi Fakhouri says customers want that same abilities both on-prem and in the cloud.

TechCrunch

Though this finding may seem curious, it is interesting to note that it is not at all unusual since other authors (especially Pinto and Zhu (2009), and Larraín and Tavares (2004), to some extent) have also found similar results, highlighting the importance of increasing wealth as the most important tool in reducing corruption.

Latin American Economic Review

Google's interest in entering online retail may seem curious, but it's tied to the fact that Amazon has become the top destination for shopping searches.

TechCrunch

The presence of this knocking sound in the pickup recordings may seem curious, but it can easily be explained by the fact that the impact of the tangent with the soundboard stud involves the string which is placed between the two bodies and in contact with the soundboard and hence transmits part of the sound (including the modal resonances of the soundboard) through to the pickups.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it may seem curious" to introduce an observation that is unexpected or contrary to what is generally believed. It's effective for setting up a contrast or a surprising revelation.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "it may seem curious". Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and predictable. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms or rephrasing your ideas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it may seem curious" primarily functions as an introductory device. It sets the stage for an explanation of something that could initially be perceived as unusual or unexpected. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and serves to introduce a potentially surprising observation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it may seem curious" is a useful tool for introducing unexpected or seemingly contradictory information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It is most frequently found in news and media, science, and academic writing, and serves to signal a contrast between initial impressions and a more nuanced understanding. When using this phrase, consider varying your sentence structure to avoid repetition and ensure your writing remains engaging. While the phrase is considered correct in English, you can use alternatives such as "it may appear odd" or "it might appear strange".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it may appear odd

Replaces 'seem' with 'appear' and 'curious' with 'odd', slightly altering the emphasis.

it might seem strange

Changes 'may' to 'might' and 'curious' to 'strange', indicating a possibility rather than a simple appearance.

it may strike one as odd

Adds a more personal perspective, suggesting the oddness is subjective.

it might appear unusual

Replaces 'seem' with 'appear', 'may' with 'might' and 'curious' with 'unusual', changing the emphasis slightly.

it could be seen as peculiar

Shifts the focus to how something 'could be seen', highlighting peculiarity.

it may come across as bizarre

Emphasizes the impression given rather than the inherent quality.

it may appear counterintuitive

Specifically points out that something seems contrary to intuition.

it might initially surprise you

Focuses on the element of initial surprise to the audience.

one might find it perplexing

Shifts to a more formal tone, highlighting the confusing nature.

it might raise eyebrows

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey surprise or disapproval.

FAQs

What does "it may seem curious" mean?

The phrase "it may seem curious" is used to introduce something that might appear strange, odd, or surprising to someone. It often precedes an explanation or justification for the seemingly unusual observation.

How can I use "it may seem curious" in a sentence?

You can use "it may seem curious" to preface a statement that contrasts with common expectations. For example, "It may seem curious that the price of gasoline is rising despite a decrease in demand, but there are several factors at play".

What can I say instead of "it may seem curious"?

You can use alternatives like "it may seem odd", "it might appear strange", or "it could be seen as peculiar" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "it may seem curious" and "it seems curious"?

"It may seem curious" implies a degree of possibility or subjectivity – it might seem curious to some, but not necessarily to everyone. "It seems curious" is a more direct statement, suggesting that something is indeed curious.