seemed to be missing

USAGE SUMMARY

'seemed to be missing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that something appears to be absent or incomplete. For example, "The information about the event seemed to be missing from the website."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pride of ownership seemed to be missing.

The New York Times

(The smoked bacon promised on the menu seemed to be missing).

The New York Times

Some side rooms, normally placed in a symmetrical array, seemed to be missing.

The New Yorker

She found that voices like her own — wavering, ambivalent — seemed to be missing from the conversation.

The Washington Post

Despite his inclination toward philanthropy, something seemed to be missing from his volunteer work.

The Guardian

Perfectly typical nesting arrangements, and yet something profound seemed to be missing.

The New York Times

The 'e' was the only thing Shan Foster seemed to be missing Thursday.

The New York Times

The walls were decorated with photographs of conservative icons (though Trump's portrait seemed to be missing).

The New Yorker

Something seemed to be missing in the seasoning of many dishes.

The New York Times - Food

Mr. Zaitsev seemed to be missing the cynicism gene that made the Soviet system go round.

The New York Times

However, as much as they liked the new den, something seemed to be missing.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemed to be missing" when you want to express a subjective observation about something absent or incomplete. Avoid using it for factual statements of absence unless qualified by perception (e.g."it seemed to be missing, but a closer inspection revealed it was just hidden").

Common error

While acceptable in general writing, overuse of "seemed to be missing" in formal or scientific contexts can make your writing less direct. Consider stronger verbs or more precise adjectives to convey absence or incompleteness, such as "lacked", "was absent" or "was deficient".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemed to be missing" functions as a linking verb phrase, connecting a subject to a description of its apparent state. It indicates a subjective assessment that something is absent or incomplete. Ludwig AI confirms the expression as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seemed to be missing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that conveys a perceived absence or incompleteness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use, though perhaps less suited to overly formal or technical writing where greater precision might be required. Predominantly found in News & Media, it functions as a linking verb phrase, allowing writers to express subjective observations or impressions. For variety, consider alternatives like "appeared absent" or "was noticeably lacking", based on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appeared absent

Replaces the verb "seemed" with "appeared" and omits "to be missing" for brevity, focusing on the state of absence.

was seemingly absent

Similar to "appeared absent" but uses "seemingly" to add a layer of subjective perception.

appeared to lack

Substitutes "missing" with "lack", emphasizing a deficiency or absence of something.

was conspicuously absent

Highlights that the absence was easily noticeable or remarkable.

gave the impression of being absent

This is a more verbose alternative, emphasizing the perceived absence rather than stating it directly.

was noticeably lacking

Similar to the previous, but emphasizes the lack rather than just the absence.

appeared deficient

Emphasizes that something was lacking a necessary quality or element.

looked incomplete

Focuses on the visual impression of something not being whole or finished.

gave the impression of incompleteness

A formal way of saying something didn't seem complete.

appeared to be gone

Focuses on the disappearance or removal of something.

FAQs

How can I use "seemed to be missing" in a sentence?

Use "seemed to be missing" to express that something appeared to be absent or incomplete based on your perception. For instance, "The key piece of evidence "seemed to be missing" from the case file."

What are some alternatives to "seemed to be missing"?

You can use alternatives like "appeared absent", "appeared to lack", or "was conspicuously absent" depending on the context.

Is "seemed to be missing" too informal for academic writing?

While "seemed to be missing" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "appeared deficient" or "was noticeably lacking" may be more suitable for academic contexts.

What's the difference between "seemed to be missing" and "was missing"?

"Seemed to be missing" implies a perception or impression, while "was missing" states a fact. "The report seemed to be missing" suggests it appeared absent, whereas "The report was missing" confirms its actual absence.