more than seems

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than seems" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is greater or more significant than it appears at first glance. Example: "The situation is more than seems; there are underlying issues that need to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

His mouth and tongue move more than seems necessary to produce his words.

The New York Times

And it thickens with the days, thins in the night as if it more than seems a carbon thing, afflicted, prone to what?

The New Yorker

Given the harm deflation can do, the ECB arguably needs to cut interest rates by more than seems appropriate for the euro area as a whole in order to prevent deflation in the zone's biggest economy.

The Economist

It's such a weak approach, when Bing has a tieup with the orthogonally useful Wolfram Alpha), now faces Yahoo saying about 25 times more than seems comfortable about its implementation of IMAP on mobile.

The Guardian - Tech

Having gone through the economic pain of austerity, Portugal's voters neither want to throw the gains away nor to suffer more than seems strictly necessary amid cautiously brightening economic indicators.

The Guardian - Opinion

Part of the appeal is that the group — eight of them, all singing and playing the ukulele — extracts more than seems humanly possible from so small and so modest an instrument, with its four little strings.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But Teachout and Wu both achieved more than seemed possible a couple of months ago.

The New Yorker

That is considerably more than seemed possible in the weeks and months immediately after Mr. Madoff's arrest.

The New York Times

Victorian scientists saw animals having more offspring than seemed necessary: today we see animals having more sex than seems necessary.

BBC

Now, it's stocked with more books than seems possible.

The Guardian - Books

Graeber himself certainly seems to be having more fun than seems proper for a respected professor.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the initial impression you're contrasting with the revealed truth.

Common error

Avoid using "more than seems" repetitively in a single piece of writing; doing so can dilute its impact and make your writing sound monotonous. Opt for varied phrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than seems" primarily functions as a comparative expression. It sets up a contrast between an initial perception and a deeper or more accurate reality, highlighting that something is greater, more complex, or more significant than initially perceived, similar to examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Science

17%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more than seems" is a comparative phrase used to indicate that something is more complex, significant, or different than initially perceived. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct, though not exceedingly common. It frequently appears in news and media contexts, serving to add depth and nuance to descriptions. While versatile, avoid overuse to maintain writing impact. Consider alternatives like "exceeds expectations" or "more than meets the eye" for varied phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than it appears

Focuses on the visual aspect of exceeding initial impressions.

exceeds expectations

Directly states that something goes beyond what was anticipated.

more than meets the eye

An idiomatic expression suggesting hidden depths or complexities.

surprisingly significant

Emphasizes the unexpected importance or impact of something.

more profound than anticipated

Highlights a deeper level of meaning or understanding than initially expected.

greater than perceived

Focuses on the difference between the actual value and the perceived value.

more substantial than believed

Suggests that something has more substance or importance than initially thought.

turns out to be more

Highlights the element of discovery and unexpected revelation.

reveals greater depths

Emphasizes the unveiling of hidden or unexpected complexity.

proves to be more significant

Indicates that, over time, something's importance becomes evident.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "more than seems" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "more significant than it appears", "more profound than it seems", or "exceeds initial expectations".

What's the difference between "more than seems" and "more than meets the eye"?

"More than meets the eye" is an idiom suggesting hidden complexity or deception, while "more than seems" simply indicates that something is greater or more important than it initially appears. The former implies a secret, the latter a surprise.

How to use "more than seems" in a sentence?

You can use "more than seems" to highlight a contrast between a superficial appearance and a deeper reality. For example, "The task was "more difficult than it seems", requiring careful planning and execution."

Is it always necessary to follow "more than seems" with an adjective?

While it's common to follow "more than seems" with an adjective (e.g., "more complex than seems reasonable"), it's not strictly necessary. You can also use it to set up a comparison: "There's "more to this than seems" at first glance."