nothing appears amiss

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nothing appears amiss" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that everything seems to be in order or that there are no visible problems. Example: "After reviewing the report, I can confidently say that nothing appears amiss with the data presented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Here in the capital, nothing appears amiss, he said.

The Guardian

Nothing appears amiss, but as soon as you pass the flares, the cyclopean red eye of a motorcycle cop descends from the darkness behind you.

Los Angeles Times

Caveats: Remember to use automated teller machines at banks (less likely to be skimmed or hacked), to shield your PIN number and to make sure nothing appears amiss with the ATM, which would suggest number-thieving "skimmers". Smart strategy: I loved this tip from Lauren Goldberg, who is a travel agent with TheFamilyTraveler.com and sent her daughter on an exchange program to Estonia.

Los Angeles Times

Some cybercriminals even fix the security flaws that allowed them to gain access to a computer network in the first place, like a burglar breaking a window and then replacing it before he leaves so nothing appears amiss.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Nothing appeared amiss to the Columbia trainers, and he practiced for a week, limping around the field.

The New Yorker

If something appears amiss, especially if a pattern of such trades is turned up, the trail is followed.

The New York Times - Magazine

It seems to me that the economic profession is increasingly acknowledging that something appears amiss in the distribution of income.

The Economist

Mr Hockney said in a statement that he came downstairs at the five-bedroom house at midnight to make a cup of tea where he met his former long-term partner, John Fitzherbert, and his chief assistant Jean Pierre De Lima but nothing appeared to be amiss.

Independent

Plans for a day out the next day with members of her family were scuppered because of the bad weather but when her father-in-law later dropped off her one-year-old son, Phaedra, that Sunday afternoon in April to her house in Kent, nothing appeared to be amiss.

Independent

Nothing appears obviously wrong.

Cornell University

Nothing appears to the contrary.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nothing appears amiss" when you want to convey a sense of initial reassurance, suggesting that a situation seems normal at first glance, but might require further investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "nothing appears amiss" in overly casual conversations. It can sound stilted or overly formal in everyday settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "everything seems fine".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing appears amiss" functions as an introductory observation, indicating a preliminary assessment that there are no obvious problems or irregularities. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in English. Examples show it used in news reports, academic papers, and general observations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nothing appears amiss" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that everything seems normal at first glance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While relatively uncommon, the phrase is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as academic writing. Remember to use this phrase when you want to convey a sense of initial reassurance while possibly implying further investigation is necessary. Consider more common alternatives like "everything seems fine" for casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everything seems fine

Simple rephrasing using common vocabulary to indicate a lack of apparent problems.

all seems well

Uses "well" instead of "amiss" to convey a similar sense of positive normalcy.

everything looks good

Substitutes "appears" with "looks" and "amiss" with "good" for a more casual tone.

nothing seems out of order

Replaces "amiss" with the more explicit "out of order", clarifying the absence of irregularities.

no problems are evident

Formal alternative highlighting the lack of visible issues or difficulties.

everything is in order

Emphasizes that all elements are correctly arranged or functioning as expected.

there are no visible issues

Directly states that no problems can be seen or detected.

no irregularities are apparent

A more formal phrasing indicating that nothing deviates from the norm.

everything checks out

An idiomatic expression suggesting that something has been examined and found to be satisfactory.

nothing raises concern

Focuses on the absence of anything that would cause worry or alarm.

FAQs

How can I use "nothing appears amiss" in a sentence?

You can use "nothing appears amiss" to indicate that everything seems normal or in order at first glance. For example, "After a preliminary inspection, "nothing appears amiss", but a more thorough investigation is needed."

What are some alternatives to "nothing appears amiss"?

Alternatives include "everything seems fine", "all seems well", or "everything looks good", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "nothing seemed amiss"?

Yes, "nothing seemed amiss" is the past tense form and is perfectly correct when describing a past situation where everything appeared normal at the time.

What is the difference between "nothing is amiss" and "nothing appears amiss"?

"Nothing is amiss" is a stronger statement indicating that there are definitely no problems. "Nothing appears amiss" suggests that everything seems fine on the surface, but there might be underlying issues that are not immediately obvious.