seems relevant

USAGE SUMMARY

'seems relevant' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you wish to express that something appears to be related or connected to the topic of conversation. For example: "His comments about the company's financial situation seem relevant to the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It seems relevant and edgy and modern".

The New York Times

And the Indy splash seems relevant.

The Guardian

"That's what seems relevant — the greed.

The New York Times

That contrast, or confrontation, still seems relevant.

The New Yorker

Nothing that happened 29 days ago seems relevant.

The New York Times - Sports

But he failed to touch on one point that seems relevant.

The New York Times - Books

"I try to contextualize in terms of history and whatever else seems relevant.

The New York Times - Arts

I wrote a piece for Slate back in December that seems relevant here.

The New Yorker

It's a timeless text that always seems relevant to the moment.

The Guardian

"In Gonzalez-Foerster's work," Mr. Birnbaum concluded, "genre no longer seems relevant".

The New York Times - Arts

The question seems relevant as New Jersey observes the 225th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems relevant" to introduce information or ideas that may not be immediately obvious but have a potential connection to the main topic. It's a good way to signal a possible link without making a definitive claim.

Common error

Avoid using "seems relevant" when the connection is tenuous or nonexistent. Overusing this phrase can weaken your argument by suggesting links that don't hold up under scrutiny.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems relevant" functions as a qualifier, indicating a perceived connection or pertinence. It expresses a subjective assessment that something has potential importance or applicability to a particular context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seems relevant" is a versatile qualifier used to introduce information or ideas with a potential connection to a topic. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for diverse contexts, from academic discussions to news reporting. When using this phrase, be mindful of overstating the connection and ensure there's a logical basis for suggesting relevance. Alternatives like ""appears pertinent"" or ""is apparently related"" can provide nuanced variations. The phrase appears frequently in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears pertinent

Uses "pertinent" instead of "relevant", suggesting a more direct and significant relationship to the matter at hand.

appears applicable

Replaces "seems" with "appears" and "relevant" with "applicable", slightly altering the tone to focus on direct applicability.

is apparently related

Substitutes "seems" with "is apparently" and "relevant" with "related", emphasizing a clear connection or association.

might be germane

Replaces "relevant" with "germane", indicating a close and appropriate relationship.

is ostensibly connected

Replaces "seems" with "is ostensibly" and "relevant" with "connected", focusing on a surface-level link or relationship.

has evident bearing

Changes the structure to highlight the impact or influence something has on the subject.

bears some relation

Emphasizes the existence of a relationship without necessarily confirming its strength or importance.

is conceivably applicable

Introduces a level of possibility or potential application.

could be significant

Shifts the focus to the potential importance or impact of something.

is possibly associated

Suggests a connection or link that may not be definitively proven.

FAQs

How can I use "seems relevant" in a sentence?

You can use "seems relevant" to introduce a point that might have a connection to the current topic. For example, "The company's previous marketing campaigns "seems relevant" when analyzing the current strategy."

What are some alternatives to "seems relevant"?

Alternatives include "appears pertinent", "is apparently related", or "might be germane". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "seems relevant" or "is relevant"?

"Seems relevant" suggests a preliminary assessment or a potential connection, while "is relevant" implies a definite and confirmed connection. Use "seems relevant" when you want to introduce a possibility without making a definitive claim.

What's the difference between "seems relevant" and "appears relevant"?

The phrases ""seems relevant"" and "appears relevant" are largely interchangeable. The choice often comes down to personal preference, as they convey nearly identical meanings.