it seemed doable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seemed doable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something appeared to be achievable or manageable. Example: "After reviewing the project requirements, it seemed doable to complete it within the given timeframe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We thought the show was already in pretty good shape, and while we had to move very fast to build the sets and get ready for Broadway, it seemed doable," Mr. Viertel said.

The New York Times

Plus, I was only a ten-minute walk from home, so it seemed doable.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

That might seem like a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time, but considering how much OUYA has accomplished so far, it seems doable.

TechCrunch

@DrLImes99.

Vice

He said that the challenge seemed "doable".

The New York Times

Running was out of the question; walking seemed doable.

The New York Times - Sports

I liked to write, and two to three pages seemed doable.

The New York Times

In many ways, they embodied the optimism of that decade, when the country was in the midst of a record boom, and so much, even medical miracles, seemed doable.

The New York Times

In a world without constraint, finally freed from the force of gravity, anything seemed doable: the 1990s gave birth to the third way, technological utopianism, the biggest speculative bubble in history, neutral, interest-free globalisation.

The Guardian - Books

Drug benefits are just part of a health care agenda that seemed doable at a time of extraordinary surpluses in the federal budget, but has gradually slipped out of reach.

The New York Times

As the markets continued to crash around him, Venables says, leaving seemed doable.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it seemed doable", follow it with a statement explaining the conditions or factors that contributed to that initial impression. This provides context and credibility to your assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "it seemed doable" without providing any supporting evidence or context. This can make your statement appear naive or overly optimistic, especially if the outcome was ultimately unsuccessful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seemed doable" functions as an assessment of feasibility from a past perspective. It describes how a situation or task was perceived, implying a degree of possibility or achievability at that time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it seemed doable" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a past perception of feasibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While it's not exceedingly common, it finds relevance across news, wiki, and science contexts. Remember to provide adequate context when using this phrase to support your claim, and avoid overstating confidence without reasonable grounds. Consider alternatives like "it appeared feasible" or "it looked achievable" to vary your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appeared feasible

Replaces "seemed" with "appeared" and "doable" with "feasible", emphasizing the visual impression of possibility.

it looked achievable

Substitutes "seemed" with "looked" and "doable" with "achievable", focusing on the visual assessment of attainability.

it felt possible

Changes "seemed" to "felt" and "doable" to "possible", highlighting a subjective feeling of possibility.

it gave the impression of being manageable

Rephrases the entire expression to emphasize the impression of something being manageable or controllable.

it presented itself as viable

Uses more formal language to convey the idea that something appeared practical and capable of succeeding.

it was thought to be realistic

Shifts the focus to a belief or thought that something was realistic and achievable.

it was considered within reach

Emphasizes that something was believed to be attainable or within one's grasp.

it struck one as attainable

Replaces "seemed" with "struck" and "doable" with "attainable", emphasizing a sudden realization of achievability.

it was imagined as workable

Focuses on the act of imagining something as being workable or capable of functioning effectively.

it seemed within the realm of possibility

Expresses that something appeared to be within the scope or range of what is possible.

FAQs

How can I use "it seemed doable" in a sentence?

Use "it seemed doable" when describing a task or situation that, in retrospect, appeared achievable at the time. For instance, "After the initial planning session, "it seemed doable" to complete the project within the given timeframe".

What are some alternatives to saying "it seemed doable"?

You can use alternatives such as "it appeared feasible", "it looked achievable", or "it felt possible" depending on the context.

Is "it seemed doable" formal or informal?

"It seemed doable" is generally considered neutral in formality. It can be used in both casual and professional settings, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in highly formal contexts.

What makes "it seemed doable" different from "it was doable"?

"It seemed doable" implies a perception or impression of feasibility, while "it was doable" states a more definitive fact. The former suggests that something appeared achievable, while the latter asserts that it actually was achievable.