it seems acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

"it seems acceptable" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that a particular situation, option, or event is not ideal, but it is tolerable. For example: "I don't love the color scheme, but it seems acceptable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The above are fictional examples, but since the subject today is fictionalized truths, it seems acceptable.

The New York Times

To the French it seems acceptable only if combined with soothing talk of "nation-states".

The Economist

The farther stations are in the P-diffracted range, however, the waveforms still look very similar to the data recorded at closer distances (see Fig. 1), and therefore it seems acceptable to include these data.

Earth, Planets and Space

Thus, for example, it seems acceptable to say that a beautiful ancient city deserves to be preserved; that a unique and formerly vibrant ecosystem deserves to be restored; that the scene of a horrible massacre deserves to be torn down.

SEP

Maybe their mother let their father treat them this way and so it seems acceptable.

HuffPost

While Trump is egocentric, it seems acceptable in him, but Kasich sometimes seems taken with himself.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Why does it seem acceptable to sell a better version of a car at a higher price, but not acceptable to sell a worse version of a car at a lower price?

University of California, Berkeley

It became routine to normalise every decline in my health, until it seemed acceptable to spend most days in bed on oxygen, too exhausted to do much but breathe.

The Guardian

The failure to integrate this aspect of education into the lives of young and teenage boys is what makes it seem acceptable to hire strippers, to binge drink, to behave as if there are no standards or rules.

The New York Times

No longer does it seem acceptable that John Thain, the since-ousted Merrill Lynch chief who ordered the accelerated bonuses that so irked McCaskill, would spend $1.2 million of his fast-sinking firm's money to redecorate his office -- and then, with Merrill's losses being revealed as even greater than feared, request a bonus of up to $10 million for himself.

The Washington Post

In recent years we have created "politically correct" terms to minimize the impact of unacceptable behavior or to make it seem acceptable.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider alternatives like "it appears satisfactory" or "it is deemed adequate" to convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions when using "it seems acceptable". Instead of "Mistakes seem acceptable in the first draft", try the more direct "Making mistakes is acceptable in the first draft". This enhances clarity and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seems acceptable" primarily functions as a linguistic hedge, softening a statement or expressing a qualified agreement. It suggests something meets a minimum standard or is tolerable, though not necessarily ideal. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it seems acceptable" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something meets a minimum standard or is tolerable, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and common across a range of contexts, including news, science, and academia. While it carries a neutral register, it's essential to consider more formal alternatives like "it appears satisfactory" in professional settings. Remember to avoid overuse of passive voice to maintain clarity and engagement in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears satisfactory

Replaces 'seems acceptable' with 'appears satisfactory', suggesting a slightly more formal assessment of adequacy.

it seems reasonable

Substitutes 'acceptable' with 'reasonable', indicating a judgment based on logic and rationality.

it seems permissible

Replaces 'acceptable' with 'permissible', implying that something is allowed by a rule or law.

it seems tolerable

Changes 'acceptable' to 'tolerable', suggesting something is bearable or endurable, even if not ideal.

it is deemed adequate

Uses 'deemed adequate' instead of 'seems acceptable', conveying a more formal judgment of sufficiency.

it is regarded as passable

Replaces the original phrase with 'regarded as passable', indicating it meets a minimum standard.

it is considered allowable

Substitutes the query with 'considered allowable', specifying that something is permitted within certain constraints.

it looks like it will do

Uses a more informal tone, suggesting something is not perfect but sufficient for the purpose.

it meets the minimum requirements

Indicates that something fulfills basic criteria, without necessarily being outstanding.

it's good enough

Offers an informal, concise way to say something is acceptable, although not excellent.

FAQs

How can I use "it seems acceptable" in a sentence?

Use "it seems acceptable" to indicate something meets a basic standard or is tolerable, even if not perfect. For example, "The quality isn't great, but "it seems acceptable" for now".

What are some alternatives to "it seems acceptable"?

Alternatives include "it appears satisfactory", "it seems reasonable", or "it seems permissible", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "it seems acceptable" in writing?

Use "it seems acceptable" when you want to express that something is adequate or tolerable under the circumstances, even if it's not the ideal situation. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Is there a more formal way to say "it seems acceptable"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include phrases like "it is deemed adequate" or "it is regarded as passable". These options are suitable for professional or academic writing.