looks like essentially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks like essentially" is not standard in written English and may be considered awkward or unclear.
It could be used when trying to convey a general impression or summary of something, but it would be better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "It looks like essentially we need to revise our strategy to meet the new market demands."

News & Media

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

At first sight, it looks like essentially Temple Run With More Bear Grylls (And Indeed More Bears).

The Guardian - Tech

But the mobile section looks like essentially an admission that truly valuable efforts on this front would take the form of portable devices that would be able to gather info from exploited media information sources.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's worth pointing out, by the way, that this is a good example of what a consumer-driven (rather than industry-driven) Los Angeles Fashion Week might look like: essentially the staging of high-production-value personal appearances or glorified trunk shows by brands regardless of their affiliation to the local design community.

Los Angeles Times

The status quo on income inequality looks like it was essentially maintained.

The New York Times

The matter has been dealt with quickly, even if some believe the timing looks like it was essentially to aid Sheikh Mohammed, a head of state as well as a racehorse owner, deal with the embarrassment.

BBC

That said, because no application is actually involved in this process, it looks like Loopt has essentially found a loophole around Apple on this one.

TechCrunch

It looks like the buttons essentially open up a browser window or widget for users to perform their chosen actions, so it's not quite native functionality in the Instagram app.

TechCrunch

Colour guard essentially looks like a lot of flag-waving and spinning set to song, and is favoured by small-town American high-school troupes.

The Guardian - Music

"It essentially looks like they are slithering in the air, like a whip moving left and right," said Jake Socha, the study's lead author and a biomechanist at Virginia Tech.

The New York Times - Science

"It looks like a barn because essentially that's what it was – the type of building they saw every day, made of simple cheap materials, cob with a bit of brick and flint, sticks and branches and thatch for the roof".

The Guardian

Mr. Wallis said that while conservation experts from the George Eastman House in Rochester are only now beginning to assess the condition of the film, it appears to be remarkably good for 70-year-old nitrate stock stored in what essentially looks like confectionery boxes.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "looks like essentially" with more concise alternatives such as "seems like" or "appears to be" for improved clarity.

Common error

Avoid using both "looks like" and "essentially" together, as it can create redundancy. Choose one or the other, or rephrase for clarity. For example, instead of saying "It looks like essentially a copy", try "It looks like a copy" or "It is essentially a copy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks like essentially" functions as a qualifier, indicating an approximation or a perceived fundamental similarity. It often introduces a description or comparison, suggesting that something shares core characteristics with something else, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Tech

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks like essentially" is used to describe something that appears to have a fundamental resemblance to something else. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it is sometimes redundant and can often be improved by using more concise alternatives. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Tech contexts, suggesting a neutral register. Consider using alternatives such as "seems fundamentally like" or "appears to be fundamentally" for improved clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems fundamentally like

This alternative replaces "looks like" with "seems" and "essentially" with "fundamentally", offering a slightly more formal tone while retaining the core meaning.

appears to be fundamentally

Using "appears to be" instead of "looks like" adds a degree of formality and distance, while "fundamentally" reinforces the essential nature.

resembles in its essence

This phrase shifts the focus to resemblance, emphasizing the core characteristics that are similar.

is basically akin to

"Akin to" directly implies similarity, and "basically" serves a similar function to "essentially".

is virtually identical to

This suggests a high degree of similarity, bordering on exactness, differing slightly from the approximation implied by the original phrase.

can be summarized as

This alternative focuses on providing a summarized or distilled version of something, highlighting its essential elements.

is in effect the same as

This suggests that despite possible differences in appearance, the underlying reality is the same.

is practically the same as

Using "practically" highlights a similarity that holds true in most real-world situations.

is almost like

This alternative simplifies the phrase, using "almost like" to convey a resemblance without the added emphasis of "essentially".

is effectively similar to

This alternative focuses on the effect or outcome, highlighting how something functions similarly to something else.

FAQs

What does "looks like essentially" mean?

The phrase "looks like essentially" means that something appears to be fundamentally or basically similar to something else. It suggests a core resemblance in nature or function.

Is it grammatically correct to say "looks like essentially"?

While not strictly incorrect, "looks like essentially" can be redundant. It's often better to use more concise alternatives like "seems fundamentally like" or "appears to be fundamentally".

What are some alternatives to "looks like essentially"?

You can use alternatives like "seems fundamentally like", "appears to be fundamentally", or "resembles in its essence" depending on the context.

How can I improve my writing by avoiding phrases like "looks like essentially"?

Focus on being concise and direct. Choose the most accurate word to convey the meaning, rather than using multiple words that overlap in meaning. For example, instead of "looks like essentially", decide whether you want to emphasize the appearance ("looks like") or the fundamental nature ("essentially").