seemingly not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seemingly not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something appears to be the case, but there is doubt or uncertainty about it. Example: "The project is seemingly not progressing as planned, despite the team's efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Seemingly not.

Independent

Seemingly not in my case.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it was seemingly not productive.

The New York Times

Pettiness was seemingly not off the agenda either.

Independent

That has seemingly not survived Trump's recent political woes.

The Guardian

Enter Mr. May, who tries something completely different by seemingly not trying.

The New York Times

Her knee, injured last month, has seemingly not hindered her at all.

The New York Times

Bradley Manning as reckless and seemingly not caring about the documents he was exposing.

The New York Times

Seemingly not very much, and certainly not very much that might translate into policy.

The Economist

Seemingly not, but Erika, a Brazilian defender, was given a yellow card for stalling.

The New York Times - Sports

They can fart, burp, sleep deeply, or seemingly not at all, and feed round the clock.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemingly not" to introduce a contrast between what appears to be true and what might actually be the case. This helps create nuance and can invite further scrutiny of the situation.

Common error

While "seemingly not" is generally acceptable, be mindful of overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger, more direct alternatives like "demonstrably false" or "unsupported by evidence" for increased precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemingly not" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause, expressing a degree of uncertainty or doubt. It suggests that something appears to be untrue or not the case, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seemingly not" is a grammatically sound and versatile construction used to introduce a sense of doubt or uncertainty about a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While very common in contexts like News & Media and Science, it's crucial to understand its nuances and potential alternatives for more precise communication. The analysis highlights the importance of source authority and usage consistency, suggesting that a blend of confidence and critical thinking is key to wielding this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently not

Replaces "seemingly" with "apparently", suggesting a similar sense of outward appearance that might be deceptive.

ostensibly not

Uses "ostensibly" instead of "seemingly", indicating a more formal and possibly skeptical tone about the apparent situation.

evidently not

Substitutes "seemingly" with "evidently", implying the lack of clear evidence for something.

apparently doesn't

Expresses the idea that something does not appear to be the case, with a slight shift in grammatical structure.

does not appear to

Rephrases "seemingly not" into a more explicit statement about the lack of appearance or indication.

it would appear not

Introduces a more tentative and indirect way of expressing that something doesn't seem to be the case.

it seems unlikely

Replaces the original phrase with a statement of improbability, maintaining a similar level of uncertainty.

it hardly seems

This alternative suggests that something is difficult to believe or accept, using the word "hardly".

on the face of it, no

Adds the qualification "on the face of it", which emphasizes that the statement is based on initial impressions.

it doesn't look like

Uses a more colloquial expression to convey that something does not seem to be the case, with an informal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "seemingly not" in a sentence?

You can use "seemingly not" to express that something does not appear to be the case, despite initial impressions. For example, "The project is "seemingly not" progressing as planned."

What are some alternatives to "seemingly not"?

Alternatives include "apparently not", "ostensibly not", or "evidently not", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "seemingly not" and "apparently not"?

While similar, "seemingly not" suggests a stronger emphasis on the initial appearance being potentially misleading, whereas "apparently not" focuses more on the lack of clear evidence.

When is it best to avoid using "seemingly not"?

In situations that require definitive statements or conclusions, avoid using "seemingly not". Opt for more assertive language if you have concrete evidence or proof.