seemingly less

USAGE SUMMARY

'seemingly less' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that has decreased in appearance or quantity, although it is not known for certain if this is the case. For example, 'The number of people at the market seemed to be less than the previous week.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Even seemingly less dangerous sports are making headlines.

The New York Times

EBay plays a prominent role at another, albeit seemingly less adventurous, magazine.

The New York Times

Another option, seemingly less predictable, would be the sale of Germany's shares in the company.

The New York Times

The Anne Frank motif resurfaces, in a seemingly less subversive way, in Richard Lourie's latest novel, "A Hatred for Tulips".

The New York Times - Books

The lead male role, seemingly less contemplative than those in the adagio section, is full of virtuosic jumps and turns.

The New York Times - Arts

It suggests that the whole classical tradition in which Michelangelo was steeped is becoming ever more foreign and therefore seemingly less germane, even to many educated people.

The New York Times - Arts

"And, for example, if a seemingly less popular candidate ends up in a runoff, people would have another chance to really get to know that person.

The New York Times

Mr. Steel added that he and his team presume — his word — that some agreement will be reached in time, seemingly less than an iron-clad guarantee.

The New York Times - Arts

They comprise uncontroversial things like global participation, as well as seemingly less Coubertinian factors such as ticket sales and television ratings.

The Economist

Decent to the point of passivity, he goes through three marriages (and an extramarital liaison), each seemingly less well-advised than the last.

The New Yorker

They surprise me, coming from a person whose work I know to be so famously "reactive" and seemingly less conscious about formal aesthetics.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemingly less" when you want to convey a sense of something appearing reduced or diminished without making a definitive statement. This can be useful when the true extent of the reduction is unknown or uncertain.

Common error

Avoid using "seemingly less" when you have concrete data or evidence showing a clear decrease. In such cases, use more definitive language like "clearly less" or "significantly less."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemingly less" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverbial phrase modifying an adjective. It indicates that something appears to be reduced in quantity or quality, but without certainty. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seemingly less" is a versatile phrase used to express an apparent reduction or decrease. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and its frequency of use is very common across diverse contexts. The phrase functions as a modifier, adding a layer of uncertainty to the statement. Its usage is prominent in news and media as well as science. While it may appear similar to other phrases, alternatives such as "apparently less" and "ostensibly less" carry slightly different implications. Remember to avoid using "seemingly less" when you have concrete evidence of an actual decrease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently less

Emphasizes the outward appearance of being less, possibly contrasting with the actual situation.

ostensibly less

Highlights that the reduction is stated or presented in a certain way, but may not be genuinely true.

evidently less

Suggests the decrease is clear and easily noticeable from the available evidence.

visibly less

Focuses on the observable reduction in quantity or intensity.

nominally less

Indicates a reduction in name only, without a real or significant change.

on the surface, less

Highlights that the reduction is only apparent at first glance and may not reflect the deeper reality.

to all appearances, less

Stresses the impression conveyed, although it might be misleading.

it appears to be less

Shifts focus to the speaker's perception or interpretation of the reduction.

it would seem, less

Introduces the idea that something appears to be less as a tentative observation.

by all accounts, less

Indicates that the reduction is supported by multiple testimonies or reports.

FAQs

How can I use "seemingly less" in a sentence?

The phrase "seemingly less" is used to describe something that appears reduced or diminished. For example, "There was seemingly less traffic than usual today."

What are some alternatives to "seemingly less"?

You can use alternatives like "apparently less", "ostensibly less", or "evidently less" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "seems less" instead of "seemingly less"?

While "seems less" is grammatically correct, "seemingly less" often adds a layer of nuance, implying that the reduction is based on appearance rather than concrete measurement. "Seems less" is a more direct observation.

What's the difference between "seemingly less" and "actually less"?

"Seemingly less" indicates an appearance of reduction that may not be entirely factual, while "actually less" confirms a real and measurable decrease. The former implies uncertainty or a superficial assessment, while the latter denotes certainty and verification.