it seems incidental

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seems incidental" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something appears to be minor or not significant in the context being discussed. Example: "While reviewing the report, I noticed that the error in the data seems incidental to the overall findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It seems incidental, but as the primary method of interfacing with the machine, it amounts to a lot.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The family photographs next to it seem incidental, but the picture might be interpreted as a demonstration that life is perilous.

The New York Times

That era's Italian gay scene, as it was indulged by tourists and expats, puts a measure of scandalous fizz into Capote's letters — we hear about the novelist Donald Windham's troubles with local young men and the police; the suicide attempt of Gian Carlo Menotti's lover — but it all seems incidental.

The New Yorker

Is he really this big?' OK, once you figure out that it's a hologram, of course it's like, 'Well how big is he?'" Considering so little in J.J. Abrams' Star Wars universe seems incidental; what could this revelation on Snoke's inspirations possibly tell us?

Independent

His damnation seems incidental.

The New Yorker

What could be cooler than a brand whose branding seems incidental, or better yet, completely organic?

The New Yorker

Too often, Kundry's death, during the final tableau, seems incidental and unmotivated.

The New Yorker

Those cases helped stoke national anxieties about a new wave of homegrown militants, evidence of which still seems incidental.

The New York Times

But in the end, such information seems incidental to that single carefree photographic moment Mr. Rogovin created years before.

The New York Times - Arts

Her images run the gamut from action shots to sentimental "Friday Night Lights -style views of the fieLights -styleers to landscapes in which the game seems incidental.

The New York Times - Arts

That Amy also discovers who committed the murder seems incidental to her efforts to penetrate the secrecy surrounding her mother's suicide when Amy was a toddler.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it seems incidental" when you want to downplay the importance of a detail or event in relation to a larger context. It's useful for focusing the audience's attention on what truly matters.

Common error

Avoid using "it seems incidental" to dismiss potentially significant details in an argument or analysis. Always ensure that seemingly minor points have been properly evaluated before deeming them unimportant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seems incidental" functions as a qualifier, indicating that something has a perceived lack of significance or relevance within a given context. Ludwig examples show how it's used to downplay certain elements.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Arts

21%

Books

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it seems incidental" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate that something is of minor importance or consequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for use across various contexts, particularly in news and media, arts, and books. The phrase functions as a qualifier, de-emphasizing details and directing focus elsewhere. While versatile, overuse in critical analysis should be avoided to prevent overlooking potentially significant information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It seems of minor importance

Directly states the low level of importance.

It seems secondary

Indicates a lower level of priority or importance compared to something else.

It appears insignificant

Emphasizes a lack of significance or importance.

It feels unimportant

Highlights the subjective feeling of a lack of importance.

It seems not crucial

Directly negates the quality of being crucial or essential.

It looks trivial

Suggests the matter is so minor as to be almost ridiculous.

It appears peripheral

Suggests the matter is on the outer boundary or edge of focus.

It feels marginal

Highlights that something is at the edge of significance.

It appears to be of little consequence

Formal and emphatic way of stating that something has minimal impact.

It looks like an aside

Implies the matter is a brief digression or tangent.

FAQs

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

You can use "it seems incidental" to suggest that something is of little importance in the context of a larger issue. For example, "The missing comma "it seems incidental" when compared to the overall clarity of the document."

What can I say instead of "it seems incidental"?

You can use alternatives like "it appears insignificant", "it seems secondary", or "it seems of minor importance" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it seems incidental"?

Yes, the phrase "it seems incidental" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness.

What is the difference between "it seems incidental" and "it is essential"?

"It seems incidental" suggests something is not important, while "it is essential" indicates something is absolutely necessary. They are antonyms, representing opposite ends of a spectrum of importance.