seems to be confused

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems to be confused" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone who appears to lack clarity or understanding about a situation or topic. Example: "After reviewing the instructions, she seems to be confused about what is expected of her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

GROUPON seems to be confused.

The Economist

Labour seems to be confused over three different issues.

The Guardian - Opinion

seems to be confused, in our celebration of manufacturing, with the work itself.

The New Yorker

A particularly clunky Cool Japan video issued by bureaucrats from the ministry of economy last summer went viral for being the nearly unwatchable essence of anti-cool Another difficulty is thanti-cool Another seems to be confusedifficultyat is thatks is cool.

The Economist

[Update: Venmo seems to be confused.

TechCrunch

The company seems to be confused about what to do in this kind of situation, saying that Google lacks a developer advocate or single point of contact, which has had the team at Themer attempting to reach out to "random people, who may or may not be able to assist," Dhingra laments.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Dawn Primarolo seems to be confusing pedagogy with primatology.

Independent

The BBC seems to be confusing impartiality with equal airtime".

The Guardian

Once again, water bottles and soda bottles and cans go in the same bin, which seems to be confusing the Fergus family.

The New Yorker

Again, the details are obscure, but in each case some component of the microbiome seems to be confusing the immune system, to the detriment of body cells elsewhere.In the case of multiple sclerosis, a confirmatory study was published last year by Kerstin Berer and her colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg, Germany.

The Economist

I don't want to be too sceptical because The Peanuts movie director is clearly a genius when it comes to adapting much loved childhood stories (Martino adapted Dr Seuss's Horton Hears a Who! which is obviously a masterpiece) and because I haven't seen the results yet, but he seems to be confusing Charlie Brown with another Peanuts character.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seems to be confused", ensure the context provides enough information for the reader to understand what the subject is confused about. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

While "seems to be confused" is acceptable, overuse can weaken your tone, especially in formal writing. Opt for stronger verbs like "misunderstands", "misinterprets", or more specific adjectives like "perplexed" for enhanced precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems to be confused" functions as a hedge, softening the assertion of confusion. It indicates an impression or observation rather than a definitive statement, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seems to be confused" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression for conveying an impression of someone's lack of understanding or clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's generally acceptable in various writing contexts, though it may benefit from more precise alternatives in formal settings. Its frequency in news and media suggests a neutral register, making it a versatile choice for expressing tentative assessments of mental states. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the subject of confusion to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to misunderstand

Changes "be confused" to the active verb "misunderstand", indicating an incorrect interpretation.

appears to lack understanding

Replaces "confused" with "lack understanding", directly stating the absence of comprehension.

appears to be disoriented

Replaces "confused" with "disoriented", focusing on a loss of bearings or understanding of one's surroundings.

looks to be bewildered

Emphasizes a visual assessment of bewilderment, suggesting a state of extreme confusion or puzzlement.

looks perplexed

Substitutes "seems to be" with "looks", emphasizing a visual assessment of someone's confusion.

appears to be muddled

Substitutes "confused" with "muddled", indicating a state of disarray or lack of clarity.

gives the impression of being baffled

Replaces "confused" with "baffled", highlighting a state of being bewildered or perplexed.

presents as though perplexed

Uses "presents as" to convey an observed state of perplexity, rather than a definite conclusion.

gives the appearance of incomprehension

Replaces "confused" with "incomprehension", emphasizing a failure to grasp something.

seems to be at sea

Uses the idiom "at sea" to express a feeling of being lost or confused.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "seems to be confused" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases such as "appears perplexed", "demonstrates a lack of understanding", or "exhibits incomprehension" for a more formal tone.

When is it appropriate to use "seems to be confused"?

This phrase is suitable when you want to express an observation or an impression of someone's state of mind without making a definitive judgment. It's useful when you don't have concrete evidence but suspect a lack of clarity.

What's the difference between "seems to be confused" and "is confused"?

"Seems to be confused" indicates an observation or a perception, suggesting a possibility but not a certainty. "Is confused", on the other hand, asserts a definite state of confusion.

Are there any synonyms for "seems to be confused" that imply a stronger degree of uncertainty?

Yes, consider using phrases such as "might be misunderstanding", "could be perplexed", or "may lack clarity" to express a higher degree of uncertainty or speculation.