seeming lapse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeming lapse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an apparent or perceived failure or oversight in a situation or behavior. Example: "Despite his usual attention to detail, there was a seeming lapse in his judgment during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A seeming lapse in surveillance by American forces has led to the looting of dangerously radioactive capsules from Saddam Hussein's main battlefield testing site in the desert outside Baghdad and the identification of at least one 30-year-old Iraqi villager, and possibly a village boy, as suffering from radiation sickness.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

On March 15, the crew met Mr. Lee in Yanji, a Chinese town near the northeastern border with North Korea, he said, but seeming lapses in security bothered him.

The New York Times

When Charles Aránguiz struck for goal midway through the second half everything seemed to lapse into slow-motion.

The Guardian - Sport

(Such arguments are a regular occurrence in evolutionary biology, a field that seems to lapse into discord every decade or so).

The New Yorker

That is what most loyalty programs seem to lapse into, as any hapless customer who has registered with a CRM-equipped retailer will tell you.

Harvard Business Review

One morning in November, sitting in his office and thinking ahead to the trip to Hawaii that he was taking with the Montrose basketball team before Christmas, Ray Hope seemed to lapse into a daydream.

The New York Times - Magazine

Early in the second period, the Islanders' energy seemed to lapse after Andy McDonald deflected a 40-foot slap shot off his teammate Rob Niedermayer and past Rick DiPietro to trim the Ducks' deficit to 3-1.

The New York Times - Sports

Though you begin from an acceptance of the fact that nihilism, pessimism, disappointment, and boredom are prevalent in our existence, you never seem to lapse into irony.

Vice

Cricket may seem to dawdle, to meander, to ramble off into amorphous perversity; but for all its vagaries and lapses into seeming incoherence there is, as in a Stoppard play, a perfectly rational explanation.

The New Yorker

The White House tries to make this lapse seem trivial.

The New York Times

During one of them, Colin seemed ready to lapse into a coma.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seeming lapse", ensure the context clarifies whether the lapse is genuinely confirmed or merely suspected. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "seeming lapse" as an absolute fact. It implies uncertainty, so treat it as a possibility rather than a certainty until verified.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeming lapse" functions as a noun phrase that describes an apparent or superficial error or oversight. Ludwig's examples show its use in contexts where something appears to be a mistake, but its actual nature isn't definitively stated.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seeming lapse" is a relatively rare but grammatically correct expression used to describe something that appears to be an error or oversight. As Ludwig's analysis indicates, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts where the goal is to report on potential errors without definitively confirming them. Related phrases include "apparent oversight" and "perceived failure". It's important to note that a "seeming lapse" implies uncertainty, so it should not be presented as a confirmed fact. The Ludwig AI confirms this analysis, noting its appropriateness in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeming slip-up

Highlights minor mistake that appears to be an error on the surface.

apparent oversight

Focuses on the visible nature of the error, highlighting that it was easily noticeable.

on the face of it mistake

Indicates that the mistake is apparent from initial observation.

ostensible error

Emphasizes the surface-level appearance of the error, without confirming its actual existence.

perceived failure

Highlights that the lapse is based on someone's interpretation or judgment.

superficial blunder

Underscores the shallow or surface-level nature of the mistake.

outward slip

Suggests a visible and potentially minor mistake.

alleged negligence

Suggests a claim or accusation of carelessness, without proof.

surface-level imperfection

Points out a flaw that is visible but not necessarily deep or significant.

shadow of doubt

Emphasizes the impression of doubt or uncertainty surrounding the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "seeming lapse" in a sentence?

You can use "seeming lapse" to describe an apparent or perceived failure or oversight. For example, "Despite his usual attention to detail, there was a "seeming lapse" in his judgment during the meeting."

What can I say instead of "seeming lapse"?

You can use alternatives like "apparent oversight", "ostensible error", or "perceived failure" depending on the context.

Is "seeming lapse" a formal or informal phrase?

"Seeming lapse" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in formal writing and news reports.

What's the difference between "seeming lapse" and "actual lapse"?

"Seeming lapse" suggests an apparent error that may not be confirmed, while "actual lapse" confirms that an error has indeed occurred.