seemed applied with a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seemed applied with a" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It may be intended to describe something that appeared to be applied in a certain way, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The paint seemed applied with a brush, but it was actually sprayed on."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(It "seemed applied with a trowel," The Denver Post noted after the first presidential debate. "He was positively orange-tinted, like he spent the previous week wolfing carrots by the bushel").

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Her emphatic dabs and curling, commalike brush strokes and preference for shimmering variegated color infuses the works with a contemporary awareness — they seem applied with the exuberance of someone who has just discovered that distorting reality is much more interesting than recording it faithfully.

The New York Times - Arts

Her emphatic dabs and curling, commalike strokes seem applied with the exuberance of someone who has just discovered that distorting reality is much more interesting than recording it faithfully.

The New York Times - Arts

It isn't that Welsh can't do omniscient narrative or "English" English - he's actually very good at both - just that here they seem haphazardly applied, with a corresponding impression of a slightly haphazard engagement with the characters themselves.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. DeVito's fascination with trash is almost touching, even though it seems to be applied with a paintbrush.

The New York Times

Channing has terrific instincts, but plastic surgery and/or make-up applied with a trowel limit her expressiveness, while Broderick just seems tired.

The Guardian

"Grint flails except for a brief puppetry scene … plastic surgery and/or makeup applied with a trowel limit [Channing's] expressiveness … Broderick just seems tired".

The Guardian - Film

With regard to drug treatment of hypertension, a 'rule of thirds' seems to apply, with approximately one-third of hypertensive patients achieving BP control with a single drug, one-third requiring two drugs and one-third requiring three drugs or more.

BMJ Open

A similar situation would seem to apply with John Locke, given his belief that the mind of another is invisible (Locke, 111.ii.1, 404 405).

SEP

Indeed, the traditional business warning, caveat emptor, seems to apply, with nothing but occasional media fact checking to protect the unschooled consumer-voter.

Huffington Post

What I said last month seems to apply with two more 300+ declines in the Dow through yesterday and could help explain the wild ride today.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how something looks like it was applied, consider using more direct and clear phrasing like "appeared to be applied with" or "looked as if it was applied with".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "seemed applied with a" as it sounds unnatural. Ensure your sentence structure is clear and directly conveys the method of application.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemed applied with a" functions as a descriptive element, attempting to convey how something appears to have been used or implemented. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seemed applied with a" is an attempt to describe how something looks like it was applied, but it suffers from grammatical awkwardness. Ludwig AI flags it as not correct. While examples exist in various sources, including News & Media and Science, clearer alternatives like "appeared to be applied with" or "looked as if it was applied with" are recommended. Its neutral register is overshadowed by its uncommon usage, suggesting it should be avoided in formal writing. Using more precise language is crucial for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was seemingly applied with

Substitutes "seemed" with "seemingly", maintaining the same meaning but with a slight difference in emphasis.

appeared to be applied with

Replaces "seemed" with "appeared", indicating a similar sense of observation or perception.

was apparently applied with

Uses "apparently" to convey a sense of outward appearance or readily available evidence.

looked like it was applied with

Uses "looked like" instead of "seemed", providing a more descriptive and visual sense of application.

gave the impression of being applied with

Emphasizes the impression created by the application method.

it appeared as though it was applied with

Offers a more verbose alternative using "appeared as though" for a similar meaning.

had the appearance of being applied with

Focuses on the visual aspect and how it looks like it has been applied.

gave the impression of application with

Simplifies the structure while keeping the core meaning related to the impression of application.

had the look of application with

Shortens the phrase, focusing on the visual impression of application.

presented as if applied with

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the presentation.

FAQs

What does "seemed applied with a" mean?

The phrase "seemed applied with a" is not a standard or grammatically sound construction in English. It attempts to describe the apparent method by which something was applied, but it's awkward and unclear.

How can I rephrase "seemed applied with a" to be more grammatically correct?

You can use alternatives such as "appeared to be applied with" or "looked like it was applied with" to convey the same meaning more clearly.

Is "seemed applied with a" considered formal or informal language?

Due to its awkwardness and lack of standard usage, "seemed applied with a" is not appropriate for formal writing. It's best to avoid it altogether and use more precise language.

What are some examples of better ways to describe how something was applied?

Instead of "seemed applied with a", try phrases like "appeared to be applied with a brush", "looked as if it was applied with care", or "gave the impression of being applied with precision".