it sounds plausible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it sounds plausible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something appears to be reasonable or believable based on the information provided. Example: "After reviewing the proposal, I must say it sounds plausible that we could achieve our goals within the proposed timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

"It sounds plausible at its root, but I haven't yet seen financial success," he said.

The New York Times - Style

It sounds plausible enough.

The New York Times - Books

I made that statistic up, though it sounds plausible.

The New York Times - Magazine

It sounds plausible, and most of us would just let it go.

The New York Times - Science

Although in outline it sounds plausible enough, a closer inspection reveals it to be built on flimsy foundations.

The Guardian - Books

When Cameron claims: "We are in this mess because of too much government debt", it sounds plausible.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

It sounded plausible.

The New York Times - Sports

When I first heard it, I thought it sounded plausible.

The New Yorker

It sounded plausible enough — after all, Carter is getting on in years and, through his organization, the Carter Center, he has participated in dozens of elections around the world.

The New Yorker

Although, he says, Arabs and Jews need to develop a new attitude towards each other, he has been in talks with Arab friends about possible projects, though he won't say what.Mr Margalit can make it sound plausible.

The Economist

It sounded plausible enough after all, Carter is getting on in years and, through his organization, the Carter Center, he has participated in dozens of elections around the world.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it sounds plausible", consider adding a clarifying statement about the level of certainty or evidence supporting the claim, such as "It sounds plausible, but further investigation is needed."

Common error

Avoid using "it sounds plausible" as a substitute for critical thinking. Always examine the underlying assumptions and evidence before accepting an idea, even if it initially seems believable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it sounds plausible" functions as an evaluative expression. It indicates that a statement or idea has an initial appearance of being believable or reasonable. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts. This implies a degree of acceptance without full commitment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it sounds plausible" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates something appears believable or reasonable based on initial assessment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and high frequency across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While expressing initial agreement, it often implies the need for further investigation. Alternatives include "it seems credible" and "it appears reasonable". When using this phrase, avoid over-reliance and ensure critical evaluation of the information. This neutral expression enhances communication by acknowledging an idea's potential validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears believable

Replaces 'sounds' with 'appears', emphasizing a visual assessment of believability rather than an auditory one.

it seems credible

Substitutes 'plausible' with 'credible', focusing on the trustworthiness of the information.

it appears reasonable

Replaces 'sounds plausible' with 'appears reasonable', highlighting the logical consistency of something.

it seems likely

Replaces 'plausible' with 'likely', indicating a high probability of occurrence.

it could be true

Expresses possibility without explicitly stating believability.

it holds water

An idiomatic expression meaning the idea is logically sound.

it rings true

This suggests that something feels authentic or genuine.

it stands to reason

Implies that something is logical and follows from known facts.

I buy that

An informal way to say you believe something.

I can believe that

Expresses personal acceptance and believability.

FAQs

What does "it sounds plausible" mean?

The phrase "it sounds plausible" means something appears to be believable or reasonable based on the available information, though it may not be definitively proven.

How can I use "it sounds plausible" in a sentence?

You can use "it sounds plausible" when evaluating a statement or idea. For example: "His explanation for the delay sounds plausible, but I still want to verify the details."

What can I say instead of "it sounds plausible"?

You can use alternatives like "it appears believable", "it seems credible", or "it appears reasonable" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it sounds plausible" or "it is plausible"?

Saying "it sounds plausible" implies a preliminary assessment based on initial impressions. Saying "it is plausible" suggests a more definitive conclusion, often after further evaluation.