seem to me

USAGE SUMMARY

'seem to me' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express an opinion or to show that you think something is true. For example, "It seems to me that the economy is getting better."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All six seem to me specious".

The New York Times - Books

The two characters seem, to me, complementary.

The New Yorker

Only two rules seem to me immutable.

The Guardian

These seem to me extremely conservative values.

The Guardian - Opinion

These seem to me powerful and valid.

The Guardian - Opinion

They seem to me like crocodile tears.

The Guardian

But these paintings seem to me . . .

The New Yorker

It didn't seem to me very important.

The Guardian

You seem to me to have me all wrong.

Yale University

And it doesn't seem to me to be responsible journalism.

The Guardian

The achievements do not seem to me large.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seem to me" to clearly indicate that you are expressing a personal opinion or perspective, especially when presenting subjective interpretations of information.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "seem to me" in formal writing. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "in my opinion" or "from my perspective" to maintain a more engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seem to me" primarily functions as a subjective assessment marker. It introduces a statement reflecting the speaker's personal impression, opinion, or understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct way to express personal perspective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

33%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seem to me" is a versatile expression used to convey personal opinions and perceptions across diverse contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, it serves as a subjective marker, indicating that the statement reflects a personal viewpoint rather than an objective fact. While commonly found in news, academic, and scientific writing, overusing "seem to me" should be avoided for stylistic reasons. To maintain a balanced and engaging tone, alternatives like "in my opinion" or "from my perspective" can be used. Overall, "seem to me" is a useful phrase when employed thoughtfully to introduce subjective assessments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in my opinion

This alternative is a more direct and concise way of stating a personal viewpoint.

as I see it

This alternative highlights the subjective nature of the perception.

from my perspective

This alternative emphasizes that the opinion is based on one's personal viewpoint.

to my mind

This is a slightly more formal way of expressing a personal opinion.

it appears to me that

This alternative is a more formal and cautious way of expressing an opinion.

I believe that

This alternative focuses on personal belief rather than appearance.

I feel that

This alternative emphasizes an emotional or intuitive perception.

my impression is that

This alternative suggests an opinion formed from incomplete information.

it strikes me that

This alternative implies a sudden or notable realization.

I gather that

This alternative suggests forming an opinion based on collected information.

FAQs

How can I use "seem to me" in a sentence?

Use "seem to me" to express a personal viewpoint or how something appears to you. For example, "It "seem to me" that the project is progressing well" indicates your personal assessment of the project's progress.

What are some alternatives to "seem to me"?

You can use alternatives like "in my opinion", "as I see it", or "from my perspective" to convey a similar meaning with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "seem to me" in formal writing?

Yes, "seem to me" can be used in formal writing, but it's important to use it judiciously. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing with alternatives like "it appears that" or "in my estimation".

What's the difference between "seem to me" and "I think"?

"Seem to me" suggests an impression based on observation, while "I think" indicates a more considered judgment. "It "seem to me" that the weather is improving" implies the weather's appearance, whereas "I think the weather will improve" is a prediction.