it seems staggering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seems staggering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something appears to be overwhelming or astonishing. Example: "The amount of data collected in just one day seems staggering, highlighting the rapid growth of technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It seems staggering that he was allowed to referee without sanction for so long: if he was not fixing games, then he was a staggeringly bad referee who should have been disbarred on the grounds of awful decisions long ago.

The Guardian - Sport

"When you look at where we are in terms of existing deep structural problems of inequality between women and men, it seems staggering to me for that we are still just talking about how to make the Equal Pay Act work when it is 45 years old, and that we are still talking about how we parent equally.

The Guardian

Given the nature of his crimes, it seems staggering that Watkins – who is now 40 – was able to begin grooming another young mother while in prison.

Vice

It seems staggering that such an agreement was still needed at the beginning of 2015, and critics have pointed out that the memorandum has a major omission: it fails to mention therapies aimed at converting transgender people back to their birth gender.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"I guess if someone said to me: 'There's a 23-year-old woman going to run Man U', I would say: 'Don't be so ridiculous!' Because it does on the face of it seem staggering.

The Guardian - Sport

"The level of ignorance seems staggering to the point of incredulity".

The New York Times

It was hard to tell how seriously he took any of these ideas; even if one of them turned out to be workable, the effort required to, in effect, caulk the entire island seemed staggering.

The New Yorker

Few doubted Rhodes' talent, his 36 goals in Huddersfield's League One promotion campaign the previous season was testament to a lethal striking instinct, but the fee seemed staggering.

The Guardian - Sport

Sir Mervyn King has long held a scathing view of modern banking culture, but even the governor of the Bank of England seemed staggered that they had fallen so low.

The Guardian - Opinion

Still, advisers to Dr. Dean seemed staggered by the strength of Mr. Kerry's showing on Saturday, and said they now saw only the remotest hope of any Democrat blocking Mr. Kerry from winning the nomination.

The New York Times

Catchers are known to break down in their mid-30's, and for the second season in a row, it seems Piazza will stagger to the finish.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it seems staggering", consider whether the context requires a more nuanced descriptor. While effective for conveying surprise or disbelief, alternatives might better capture the specific nature of what you find overwhelming, such as its complexity, size, or implications.

Common error

Avoid using "it seems staggering" excessively in formal or academic writing. While acceptable, it might be perceived as slightly informal. Opt for alternatives like "it appears remarkable" or "the scale is considerable" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seems staggering" primarily functions as an evaluative expression. It conveys a subjective assessment of a situation or fact, indicating that something appears remarkably surprising or overwhelming. As shown by Ludwig, it’s used to express a personal reaction to information.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it seems staggering" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express surprise or disbelief at something remarkable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. While primarily found in news and media, with a neutral register, the phrase conveys a personal assessment and might be substituted by alternatives like "it appears astonishing" in more formal contexts. Be mindful of overuse and consider more precise descriptors when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears astonishing

Replaces "seems staggering" with "appears astonishing" maintaining a similar sense of surprise but with a slightly different tone.

it looks overwhelming

Substitutes "seems staggering" with "looks overwhelming" focusing on the visual impression of something being too much to handle.

it is quite remarkable

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal expression, indicating something is noteworthy or impressive.

it's genuinely unbelievable

Emphasizes the lack of believability, adding a stronger emotional tone.

it's truly astounding

Uses "astounding" to convey a sense of great surprise and wonder.

it strikes me as incredible

Adds a personal perspective ("strikes me") while using "incredible" to highlight disbelief.

it comes across as monumental

Focuses on the large scale or significance of something, using "monumental" to describe its impact.

it feels almost impossible

Shifts the focus to the feeling of something being unachievable or hard to accept.

the scale of it is breathtaking

Emphasizes the magnitude and impressive nature of something.

i find it hard to believe

Expresses personal difficulty in accepting something as true or real.

FAQs

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

You can use "it seems staggering" to express a sense of disbelief or astonishment about something. For example, "It seems staggering that he was allowed to referee without sanction for so long".

What phrases are similar to "it seems staggering"?

Alternatives include "it appears astonishing", "it looks overwhelming", or "it is quite remarkable", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it seems staggering" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it seems staggering" may be perceived as slightly informal. In formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "it appears remarkable" or "the scale is considerable".

What's the difference between "it seems staggering" and "it is staggering"?

"It seems staggering" implies that something appears overwhelmingly surprising or unbelievable, while "it is staggering" states it as a direct fact. The former adds a layer of personal perception or interpretation.