seem not

USAGE SUMMARY

'seem not' is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
You would not use it in any context. Incorrect example: "It seem not to matter." Correct example: "It does not seem to matter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

These all seem not unreasonable".

The New Yorker

Others seem not even to remember it.

The New York Times

The meetings seem not to have helped.

The New Yorker

"They seem not to be".

The Guardian

You seem not all right.

The New York Times

Water-based sealants seem not to work.

The New York Times

The clock Will seem not to exist.

The Guardian - Books

I seem not to have slept.

The Guardian - Music

They seem not to be bad sports.

The New Yorker

But Russians seem not to agree.

The New York Times

But some here seem not to have gotten the memo.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "seem not" in contemporary writing. Instead, use the grammatically correct form "does not seem" or other alternatives like "appears not to be".

Common error

The common mistake is to directly negate the verb "seem" without using an auxiliary verb like "do". Always use "does not seem" or "did not seem" instead of "seem not" or "seemed not".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seem not" functions as a verb phrase with a negation, aiming to express a lack of appearance or probability. However, it's grammatically non-standard. As Ludwig AI indicates, using "does not seem" is the correct alternative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "seem not" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in modern English. Ludwig AI identifies "does not seem" as a proper alternative. Although "seem not" has been used to express doubt or uncertainty across different contexts, you should use grammatically correct alternatives to maintain clarity and professionalism. It’s crucial to opt for phrases like "does not seem" or "does not appear to" to ensure your writing is accurate and well-received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not seem

Uses the auxiliary verb 'does' to form a grammatically correct negative statement.

does not appear to

Replaces "seem" with "appear", maintaining a similar meaning but with correct grammar.

it doesn't seem to be

Adds "to be" to create a more complete and grammatically standard phrasing.

it seems unlikely that

Expresses a lower probability or doubt about something.

it does not seem probable

Indicates something lacks a high likelihood of being true.

it would appear not

Uses "appear" instead of "seem" in a negative construction, considered more formal.

it is not evident that

Highlights that something is not obvious or apparent.

it is not apparent that

Replaces 'evident' with 'apparent' but the overall meaning is preserved.

it is doubtful that

Highlights that something is unlikely.

it is questionable whether

Indicates that something is subject to doubt or uncertainty.

FAQs

How can I correctly negate the verb "seem"?

The grammatically correct way to negate "seem" is to use the auxiliary verb "do". For example, use "does not seem", "did not seem", or "do not seem" instead of the incorrect "seem not".

What are some alternatives to "seem not"?

Instead of "seem not", you can use phrases like "does not seem", "does not appear to", or "it seems unlikely that".

Is "seem not" ever correct in English?

"Seem not" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in modern English. While you might find it in older texts, it's best to avoid it in contemporary writing.

What's the difference between "does not seem" and "seem not"?

"Does not seem" is the grammatically correct form using the auxiliary verb "does", while "seem not" is an outdated and incorrect negation of the verb "seem".