not seeming to

USAGE SUMMARY

"not seeming to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe a situation where something does not appear to be happening or is not perceived as such. Example: The new employee was not seeming to understand the company's policies, causing confusion among the team.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A lot of things are not seeming to be captured by it.

Yale University

RONALD MCDONALD (stares blankly at the wall, not seeming to hear) H.R. Er.

The New York Times

Blank faced humans walked around dirt enclosures not seeming to truly see or feel anything.

The New York Times

"I know," she said, not seeming to care about matching his tone.

The New Yorker

"The police had to take action," she said, not seeming to give it a further thought.

The New York Times

"I'm looking for something I recognize," he said wanly, not seeming to hold out much hope.

The New York Times

When he spoke, he apologized for not seeming to be sufficiently forward-looking.

The New York Times - Magazine

(He sighs wearily and looks out the window blankly, not seeming to respond to any one particular sight).

The New Yorker

Ventura wore the uniform and paraded around the clubhouse, not seeming to know or care that the pants were unzipped.

The New York Times - Sports

The trick for any president, of course, is in not seeming to be whipsawed, even as his challenger presents him as weak and ineffectual in shaping international events.

The New York Times

"They'd only die," Mrs. Crozier said, not seeming to realize that this remark had a double edge to it, under the circumstances.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "not seeming to" with verbs that denote states of being or understanding (e.g., "not seeming to care", "not seeming to understand") to effectively convey a lack of apparent emotion or comprehension.

Common error

While generally acceptable, overuse of "not seeming to" can make your writing sound less direct. In formal contexts, consider stronger, more direct verbs to express the same idea with more impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not seeming to" functions as a qualifier, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a lack of apparent action, quality, or intention. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and used to describe situations where something doesn't appear to be happening or is not perceived in a certain way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not seeming to" is a grammatically correct and versatile construction used to express a lack of apparent quality or intention. It functions as a qualifier, allowing writers to convey observations about something's perceived state rather than making definitive claims. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

While widely used across various contexts, it is particularly prevalent in News & Media, offering a nuanced way to describe events and behaviors. While generally neutral, more direct language can be chosen in formal contexts. Remember to consider alternatives like "not appearing to" or "not giving the impression of" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not appearing to

Replaces "seeming" with "appearing", emphasizing the visual aspect of the lack of action or quality.

not appearing as if

Adds "as if" for a slightly more emphatic sense of something not being the case.

not giving the impression of

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the lack of an apparent quality or action.

not looking like

Focuses on the visual aspect and how something doesn't resemble something else.

not suggesting

Implies a lack of indication or hint of something.

not indicating

Similar to 'not suggesting', but emphasizes a lack of explicit signal or sign.

not betraying any

Implies a concealment or lack of revealing a particular emotion or action.

not demonstrating

Focuses on a lack of observable evidence of something.

not exhibiting

Similar to "not demonstrating", but suggests a more outward display.

not pretending to

Highlights the absence of an attempt to feign a certain quality or behavior.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not seeming to" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "not appearing to", "not giving the impression of", or "not looking like" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "not seeming to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not seeming to" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written and spoken English. It's used to describe something that doesn't appear to be happening or is not perceived in a certain way.

What does "not seeming to" imply in a sentence?

The phrase "not seeming to" implies that something lacks an obvious or readily apparent quality. It suggests an observation or perception, rather than a definitive statement.

When is it best to use "not seeming to" in writing?

It's best to use "not seeming to" when you want to describe a situation where something does not have an obvious or readily apparent quality. It is useful to describe someone's actions such as "not seeming to care", or "not seeming to understand".