seems to be a subsidiary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems to be a subsidiary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a company or organization that appears to be a smaller part of a larger parent company. Example: "After reviewing the financial reports, it seems to be a subsidiary of a larger corporation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(Art seems to be a subsidiary concern).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In recent days more and more detailed rumours about the structure of a merged institution have trickled from Frankfurt's leaky towers.The favoured model seems to be a holding company with five subsidiaries: investment banking, retail banking, asset management, corporate banking and the back office.

The Economist

While the newsletter is often conceived as a one-way product from producer to consumer, as BuzzFeed's Anne Helen Petersen notes in her feature on Lenny, within the resurging culture of the newsletter is the potential for a throwback to letter-writing, which seems to be the case with the platform TinyLetter – a subsidiary of MailChimp.

The Guardian

And companies that supply storage or raw computing power will benefit: Amazon.com seems to be pioneering that with its Web services subsidiary.

Forbes

Where the market seems to be weakest is for lower-priced apartments, said Douglas Elliman, a subsidiary of Insignia Financial Group Inc., one of the largest U.S. property brokers.

The New York Times

Rather than physically re-designing its product to accommodate shifting demand patterns as China United Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, is doing China Southern seems to be focussing on the letter, not the spirit, of the law.

The Economist

Morgan noted that as traditional advertising dollars decline, many existing media companies seem to be propped up by subsidiaries that weren't initially part of their core business, such as The Washington Post and its subsidiary Kaplan.

TechCrunch

Any politician would have wanted the opportunity to be the city's leader then, and the fact that Mr. Pataki showed no jealousy about his subsidiary role seemed to be the sign of real maturity, and a perfect sense of priorities.

The New York Times

Both subsidiaries seem to be doing very well, growing at about 2% a year.Shaul and Maxanne EzerTorontoFree ridersSIR – It is indeed possible to drive from San Francisco to New Jersey on Interstate 80 "without paying a cent" ("The long and expensive road", January 8th).

The Economist

The Optional Protocol is a subsidiary agreement to the Convention.

Wikipedia

Everything else is a subsidiary issue.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems to be a subsidiary" when you want to express an observation or tentative conclusion about a company's relationship to a parent organization. Provide context or evidence to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "seems to be a subsidiary" when definitive proof of the relationship exists. Opt for a more direct statement like "is a subsidiary" if you have concrete evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems to be a subsidiary" functions as a qualifier or descriptor, attributing a potential relationship between two entities. It suggests an apparent connection without asserting it as a confirmed fact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it can be used when expressing a conclusion about a company's relationship to a parent organization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seems to be a subsidiary" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that allows for a tentative assertion regarding a company's relationship with a parent organization. While relatively uncommon, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for neutral and professional registers, particularly in News & Media and Business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure to provide context to support your claim and avoid overstating the certainty if definitive proof is lacking. Alternative phrases like "appears to be a subsidiary" or "is reportedly a subsidiary" can be used to modulate the level of confidence or information source.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears to be a subsidiary

Replaces "seems" with "appears", indicating a similar level of perceived relationship, with a bit stronger of an affirmation.

is apparently a subsidiary

Substitutes "seems" with "is apparently", suggesting that the subsidiary status has been confirmed but might not be fully known.

is reportedly a subsidiary

Replaces "seems" with "is reportedly", indicating the information comes from a report, and is less based on observation.

is understood to be a subsidiary

Replaces "seems" with "is understood", which suggests a common understanding or consensus, though maybe without formal confirmation.

is believed to be a subsidiary

Replaces "seems" with "is believed", indicating the idea is based on opinion, but it is widely held.

presents itself as a subsidiary

Changes the focus to how the entity presents itself, not necessarily reflecting the absolute truth.

functions as a subsidiary

Focuses on the functional role rather than the formal status.

operates as a subsidiary

Emphasizes the operational aspect of being a subsidiary.

effectively a subsidiary

Emphasizes the practical outcome, it can be considered, for all purposes, as if it was a subsidiary.

virtually a subsidiary

Replaces the verb and emphasis the degree of similarity with a real subsidiary, adding the "virtual" modifier.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "seems to be a subsidiary"?

Use "seems to be a subsidiary" when you suspect a company might be a subsidiary of another but lack definitive proof. It indicates a degree of uncertainty or observation.

What are some alternatives to "seems to be a subsidiary"?

Alternatives include "appears to be a subsidiary", "is reportedly a subsidiary", or "is believed to be a subsidiary", each conveying slightly different nuances of certainty or information source.

How does "seems to be a subsidiary" differ from "is a subsidiary"?

"Seems to be a subsidiary" suggests an observation or inference, while "is a subsidiary" states a confirmed fact. Use the former when you're not entirely sure and the latter when you have definitive evidence.

Can "seems to be a subsidiary" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "seems to be a subsidiary" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when expressing a tentative conclusion based on available information. However, strive for more definitive language if possible.