looks serious

USAGE SUMMARY

"looks serious" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone looking very serious, or when someone is talking about something serious. For example: "He was discussing the problem with a grave expression; it looks serious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Looks serious, Dany agreed.

The New York Times - Arts

He looks serious.

The Guardian

She looks serious.

The Guardian

It looks serious.

The Guardian

"Christ," Hill finally acknowledged, "this looks serious.

The New Yorker

The Caroline Kennedy story looks serious now.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

He looked serious.

The New York Times - Arts

He looked serious, too.

The New York Times - Sports

To look serious".

The New York Times

Mr. Theodore looked serious.

The New York Times

This looked serious.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looks serious" to describe a situation, follow it with an explanation to clarify why it seems serious. This provides context and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "looks serious" as a standalone statement. Always provide context or elaboration to explain why something appears serious. For example, instead of saying "The situation looks serious", specify "The situation looks serious due to the rising floodwaters".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks serious" primarily functions as a copular verb phrase where "looks" links the subject to the adjective "serious", describing a state or condition. Ludwig examples confirm its role in attributing a quality of gravity or concern.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks serious" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a situation or a person's state as concerning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable for written English and sees frequent use in News & Media. To enhance clarity and impact, it's best practice to provide context explaining why something "looks serious". While versatile, consider alternative phrases like "appears grave" or "seems critical" in more formal or specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indicates severity

This phrase focuses on the degree of seriousness, directly highlighting that the situation is not minor or trivial, which is a more explicit emphasis than "looks serious".

suggests a crisis

This indicates that the situation has reached a critical point and requires immediate intervention, conveying a higher level of urgency compared to "looks serious".

seems worrisome

This alternative emphasizes the anxiety or concern caused by the situation, directly indicating the emotional impact, which is not explicitly conveyed by "looks serious".

appears grave

This alternative suggests a deep level of solemnity or concern, implying a more profound situation than just "looks serious".

signals danger

This phrase explicitly warns of potential harm or risk, which is a more direct and alarming indication than simply "looks serious".

appears precarious

This suggests that the situation is unstable and could quickly become worse, highlighting the uncertainty and potential danger inherent in the situation.

is alarming

This alternative emphasizes the potential for danger or distress, highlighting the concerning nature of the situation more directly than "looks serious".

seems critical

This phrase indicates that the situation is at a crucial stage, requiring immediate attention, which is a higher degree of seriousness than "looks serious".

portends trouble

This phrase implies that future problems are likely, giving a sense of foreboding that is not as directly conveyed by "looks serious".

presents a challenge

This suggests something difficult or demanding. The seriousness comes from the implied difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "looks serious" to describe a situation, a person's expression, or an injury. For example: "The patient's condition "looks serious", we need to run more tests" or "He "looks serious"; I wonder what's bothering him".

What are some alternatives to "looks serious"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "appears grave", "seems critical", or "indicates severity" as alternatives to "looks serious".

When is it appropriate to use "looks serious" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "looks serious" in both formal and informal writing when you want to convey that a situation or person's state appears to be concerning or potentially dangerous. Remember to provide context to enhance clarity.

Is "looks serious" a formal or informal expression?

"Looks serious" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or academic writing, consider using more precise or sophisticated alternatives depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.