seemed a plus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seemed a plus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something appeared to be an advantage or benefit in a given context. Example: "The flexible work hours seemed a plus when considering the job offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But in 1991, Bonn's provincialism seemed a plus, not a minus.

The New York Times

His utter lack of experience in government seemed a plus.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

(The fact that the oil it carries has the same carbon footprint as nearly thirty coal-fired power plants would perhaps seem a plus to him).

The New Yorker

That might seem a plus for Mr. Gore in his race against Gov. George W. Bush of Texas, since the stock market has quadrupled during Mr. Gore's time in office.

The New York Times

Exporters there also have trouble finding containers to ship their goods, because so few are arriving carrying imports.Most South-East Asian countries are also hampered by the very regional integration that seemed such a plus when times were good.

The Economist

So in that case if you can do it better because you've got some drug on board, that would on the face of things seem like a plus".

The New York Times

For the grands crus, which are intended to be tucked away in a cellar for a decade or more, this might be a legitimate concern; for the Crus Bourgeois, which are generally meant to be opened sooner, easy drinkability seems like a plus to me.

The New York Times - Food

I agree with Scoble that the GPS thing, which may seem like a plus, will likely end up hurting it.

TechCrunch

But a likely German decision to say yes, plus what seemed a scary bid by Russia to exploit Kosovo to divide the EU, has converted many doubters.

The Economist

Plus, it seemed a little strange for director Andy Serkis to say he'd respect the "darkness" of the source material — this is, after all, a talking animal story.

TechCrunch

At first that seemed to be a plus for a Democrat running in a purple state.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemed a plus" when you want to convey that something initially appeared to be an advantage or benefit, even if that perception might change later.

Common error

Avoid using "seemed a plus" excessively in your writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language with synonyms like "appeared advantageous" or "looked like a benefit" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemed a plus" functions as a subjective assessment, indicating that something had the appearance of being beneficial or advantageous at a particular point in time. This is supported by examples in Ludwig, where the phrase is used to describe initial impressions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seemed a plus" is used to describe something that initially appeared to be beneficial or advantageous. It is grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, but its frequency is uncommon. It is used mainly in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "appeared advantageous" or "looked like a benefit" can be used for variety. It's important to use "seemed a plus" judiciously and be aware of the potential for initial perceptions to change over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appeared advantageous

Replaces "seemed" with "appeared" and "plus" with "advantageous", maintaining a similar formal tone.

looked like a benefit

Substitutes "seemed" with "looked like" and "plus" with "benefit", making the phrase slightly more informal.

seemed like an asset

Replaces "plus" with "asset", indicating something valuable and helpful.

presented itself as an advantage

More verbose, emphasizing the manner in which something appears beneficial.

felt like a bonus

Uses "felt" instead of "seemed", suggesting a more subjective perception of benefit.

was perceived as positive

Highlights the perception of something being positive rather than simply advantageous.

proved to be a boon

Implies the benefit was confirmed over time, adding a sense of validation.

seemed to be a good thing

A more general and less formal way of expressing something's apparent benefit.

turned out to be helpful

Focuses on the outcome, indicating that something eventually proved beneficial.

showed promise as a benefit

Emphasizes the potential for something to be beneficial, though not necessarily guaranteed.

FAQs

How can I use "seemed a plus" in a sentence?

You can use "seemed a plus" to indicate something initially appeared to be an advantage. For example, "In 1991, Bonn's provincialism "seemed a plus", not a minus."

What can I say instead of "seemed a plus"?

You can use alternatives like "appeared advantageous", "looked like a benefit", or "felt like a bonus" depending on the context.

Is "seemed a plus" formal or informal?

"Seemed a plus" is generally considered neutral and can be used in various contexts, but more formal alternatives like "appeared advantageous" might be preferable in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "seemed a plus" and "was a plus"?

"Seemed a plus" implies the benefit was apparent or initial, while "was a plus" suggests it definitively proved to be an advantage. For example, "The lower price "seemed a plus" at first, but the hidden fees made it more expensive in the end" versus "The lower price "was a plus" because it fit within the budget."