looks reliable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks reliable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when assessing the trustworthiness or dependability of a person, source, or object based on its appearance or presentation. Example: "After reviewing the data, the source looks reliable for our research project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Make sure the listing looks reliable.

The New York Times

Is Angola about to join this worthy club The Unicef study looks reliable.

The Economist

The car [Red Bull] works well, looks reliable.

BBC

All the data seems to be firm, have adequate controls and looks reliable.

eLife

It is hard to tell for sure, but such evidence as looks reliable is hardly encouraging.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The offense has looked reliable, just productive enough.

The New York Times - Sports

But online retailers can cheaply create polished Web sites that look reliable.

The New York Times - Tech

"Fifteen gentlemen who know how... .. & showing 15 brewmasters, all of whom look reliable, & full of know-how.

The New Yorker

Poll numbers for hypothetical races — Mr. Corzine is up for re-election this year, the others next year — make stock market prognostications look reliable.

The New York Times

At the same time, I had relatively steady pay and I was registered with INPS [the Italian social security system], which made me look reliable in the eyes of my bank and landlord.

The Guardian

On Twitter, there was so much information and disinformation that I tried to distill some of it for my followers, picking out bits that looked reliable and supplementing them with information from the Web sites of Le Monde and Libération.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a source or piece of information, use "looks reliable" to convey an initial assessment based on observable qualities. Combine this with deeper analysis for a complete evaluation.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on appearances when judging reliability. Just because something "looks reliable" does not guarantee its accuracy or truthfulness. Always verify with corroborating evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks reliable" functions as a subject complement, describing the apparent quality of a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable. It expresses an initial assessment based on outward appearance, not necessarily confirmed fact.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looks reliable" is used to describe something that gives an initial impression of trustworthiness or dependability. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, it appears in diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science and Wiki. It's crucial to remember that something that "looks reliable" may not actually be so, thus requiring further verification. To improve clarity, consider alternatives like "seems dependable" or "appears trustworthy" based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems dependable

Focuses on the impression of being dependable rather than reliable.

appears trustworthy

Highlights the aspect of trustworthiness in appearance.

projects credibility

Emphasizes the projection of credibility, suggesting a strong sense of believability.

has the look of dependability

More verbose, emphasizing the visual aspect of reliability.

appears to be credible

Highlights the credibility aspect and use "appears to be" as alternative of "looks".

inspires confidence

Focuses on the feeling of confidence that the appearance generates.

exudes dependability

Emphasizes a strong outward display of dependability.

presents as authentic

Highlights the authenticity conveyed through appearance.

conveys a sense of security

Highlights the communication of safety and protection that "looks reliable" can generate.

gives a good impression

General phrase indicating a positive appearance but not necessarily reliability.

FAQs

How can I use "looks reliable" in a sentence?

You can use "looks reliable" to describe something that gives an initial impression of trustworthiness. For instance, "The data presented in the report "looks reliable" at first glance, but requires further verification."

What's the difference between "looks reliable" and "is reliable"?

"Looks reliable" suggests an initial assessment based on appearance, while "is reliable" implies confirmed dependability. Something that "looks reliable" might not actually be so upon closer inspection.

What can I say instead of "looks reliable"?

You can use alternatives like "seems dependable", "appears trustworthy", or "projects credibility" depending on the context.

Is it safe to assume something is reliable just because it "looks reliable"?

No, it's not. The phrase "looks reliable" only suggests an initial impression. Always verify information from any source, even if it "looks reliable".