it seem difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seem difficult" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "it seems difficult." You can use this phrase when expressing that something appears to be challenging or hard to accomplish. Example: "At first glance, it seems difficult to solve this math problem, but with practice, it becomes easier."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Gay ubiquity began to make it seem difficult for homophobes to travel anywhere interesting without encountering their bugbear.

The Guardian - Books

The site is closely linked into both Twitter and Google+, and comes with a Facebook app which can sometimes make it seem difficult to escape.

The Guardian - Books

For instance, Accel Partners, a big Silicon Valley VC firm, is betting on Jboss, which creates computer applications for corporate clients using Linux, the main open-source software.That the code is free might make it seem difficult to see how any start-up company could make money from it.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"At face value," said one Bush official, "it seems difficult to argue that it's neutral territory".

The New York Times

On one level it seems difficult to argue with him.

The New York Times

Second, because it seemed difficult, and therefore interesting.

The Guardian - Books

It seems difficult to reconcile this with her being six.

The Guardian - Opinion

Secondly, it seems difficult to inoculate feminism against paranoia.

The Guardian - Opinion

It seems difficult to reconcile that this should be so.

The Guardian - Opinion

It happened so fast, it seemed difficult at first to process.

The New York Times - Sports

Now it seems difficult to know which fish are managed well enough to eat without guilt.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "it seems difficult" instead of "it seem difficult" to ensure grammatical correctness in your writing.

Common error

Ensure the verb "seem" agrees with the singular subject "it". The correct form is always "seems" when "it" is the subject; avoid using "it seem" as it is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seem difficult" functions as an incorrect attempt to express that something presents a challenge or appears hard to do. Ludwig AI indicates that the grammatically correct form is "it seems difficult".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it seem difficult" might be intuitively understood, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct form is "it seems difficult". Usage is rare, appearing mostly in news and media, and occasionally in scientific contexts. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, always use "it seems difficult" or one of its alternatives like "it appears challenging" or "it looks tough". Avoiding this error will enhance the credibility and formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems challenging

Corrects the grammar of the original phrase while maintaining a similar level of formality.

it appears challenging

Replaces "seem difficult" with a more formal and grammatically correct alternative, focusing on the apparent challenge.

it is proving to be difficult

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the difficulty.

it presents a challenge

Shifts the focus to the challenge itself rather than the perceived difficulty.

it may be problematic

Suggests potential issues or difficulties without directly stating them.

it looks tough

Uses a more informal tone to express that something appears difficult.

it could be troublesome

Indicates that something might cause trouble or difficulty.

it is hard to imagine

Focuses on the difficulty in imagining something.

it's a tall order

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that something is a difficult request or task.

it's not easy

Simplifies the expression to a basic statement of difficulty.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "it seem difficult"?

The correct way to say it is "it seems difficult". The verb must agree with the singular subject "it".

Can I use "it seem difficult" in formal writing?

No, "it seem difficult" is grammatically incorrect and should not be used in formal writing. Use "it seems difficult" instead.

What are some alternatives to "it seems difficult"?

Alternatives include "it appears challenging", "it looks tough", or "it presents a challenge" depending on the context.

Why is "it seem difficult" incorrect?

The phrase "it seem difficult" is incorrect because the singular subject "it" requires the singular verb form "seems". Subject-verb agreement dictates that singular subjects take singular verbs, hence "it seems difficult" is the correct form.