it seems somewhat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seems somewhat" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a degree of uncertainty or to indicate that something appears to be true to a certain extent. Example: "It seems somewhat unlikely that the event will take place as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

As Greg Anderson of Citigroup put it: "it seems somewhat unfathomable that a country that has not been a member of EMU for even three years could be the one leading to its unravelling".

The Guardian - Business

"It seems somewhat misguided".

The New York Times

It seems somewhat less amusing now.

The Guardian - Sport

"I cannot prevent them from filing a claim, but it seems somewhat questionable.

The New York Times - Sports

Admittedly, it seems somewhat preposterous that simply processing scanned checks, as DataTreasury does, could be a patentable business method.

The New York Times

Fans of the show have taken to the internet - I know, it seems somewhat incongruous - to make their feelings known.

Independent

It seems somewhat smaller, however, next to the wards of shaven-head babies -- or the collapse of a continent.

The New York Times - Magazine

It seems somewhat rash of David the android to deliberately infect one of his fellow crew members with alien goo.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

It seemed somewhat odd".

The New Yorker

"It seemed somewhat half-hearted," he said.

The New York Times

"It seemed somewhat punitive," Mr. Davies said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it seems somewhat" to introduce a statement with a degree of reservation or politeness, softening the impact of a potentially controversial or uncertain claim.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "it seems somewhat" in your writing, as overuse can make your prose sound hesitant and lacking in confidence. Vary your phrasing with stronger assertions or more direct observations when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seems somewhat" functions as a hedge, softening a statement or expressing a degree of uncertainty. It modifies the assertion, indicating that something appears to be the case to a certain extent, but without complete conviction. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it seems somewhat" is a versatile expression used to convey a sense of uncertainty or tentativeness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently encountered across various writing contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science. Its function is to soften statements, making them less assertive and more open to interpretation. While widely used, it's important to avoid overuse to maintain a confident tone in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears to be somewhat

Replaces "seems" with "appears to be", maintaining the sense of observation and slight uncertainty.

it would seem a bit

Uses "would seem" to add a hypothetical or conditional tone, suggesting a tentative conclusion.

it seems a little

Substitutes "somewhat" with "a little" for a more informal expression of degree.

it seems rather

Replaces "somewhat" with "rather", suggesting a slightly stronger degree of the perceived quality.

it seems quite

Uses "quite" instead of "somewhat" for a more definitive but still moderate assertion.

it looks somewhat

Replaces "seems" with "looks", shifting the observation to a visual impression.

it strikes me as somewhat

Adds a personal perspective with "it strikes me", indicating a subjective impression.

it gives the impression of being somewhat

More verbose, emphasizing the impression created rather than direct observation.

it has a somewhat

Focuses on possessing a certain quality to a moderate degree.

it arguably seems

Inserts "arguably" to denote that the statement is open to discussion or differing opinions.

FAQs

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

Use "it seems somewhat" to express a degree of uncertainty or mild observation. For example: "It seems somewhat unlikely that the project will be completed on time."

What's a more formal way to say "it seems somewhat"?

A more formal alternative to "it seems somewhat" is "it appears somewhat". This substitution maintains a similar level of reservation while elevating the tone.

What are some alternatives to "it seems somewhat" for expressing uncertainty?

You can use phrases like "it seems a little", "it seems rather", or "it seems quite" depending on the desired degree of uncertainty.

Is "it seems somewhat" the same as "it seems somehow"?

No, "it seems somewhat" and "it seems somehow" are not interchangeable. "It seems somewhat" indicates a degree or extent, while "it seems somehow" suggests that something is happening in a way that is mysterious or unexplained.