seems to be normal

USAGE SUMMARY

"seems to be normal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are suggesting that something is typical. For example, "My friend always looks a little tense when she's speaking in public, but today she seems to be normal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A few hours a day on desktop or mobile devices seems to be normal for most.

University of California, Berkeley

In the IT world having to re-write 40% of your code seems to be normal.

The Guardian

Since bone mass seems to be normal to elevated in patient with type 2 diabetes, the increased fracture risk is thought to be due to both an increased falling frequency and decreased bone quality.

Maturitas

Increasing numbers tell us they have actually had welfare payments sanctioned – but arriving late for an appointment, missing a letter, or making a minor mistake with paperwork leads to claimants losing all benefits, including housing benefit, for at least four weeks (and usually longer; six weeks seems to be normal).

The Guardian - Opinion

The failure or the giving up of a work place seems to be normal.

European Journal of Futures Research

Although there seems to be normal vulnerability index distribution in Figure 3, a keen look at the values showed a slight shift to the left.

Pastoralism

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Specifically, although the embryonic axes formed normally and the first two rounds of divisions seemed to be normal, subsequent cleavage furrows were able to reopen and cells fused [ 28].

BMC Biology

They just seemed to be normal guys.

Independent

An odd sound -- too loud, it seemed, to be normal.

The New York Times

The weather continued to be rainy throughout the summer and never seemed to be normal.

Cornell University

Cost and time overruns seem to be normal occurrences in these projects.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems to be normal" when you want to indicate that something aligns with expectations based on current observations or information. It's suitable when you don't have conclusive evidence but have a reasonable basis to suggest normalcy.

Common error

Avoid using "seems to be normal" when you possess definitive proof of abnormality. This phrase is best suited for situations where uncertainty or preliminary assessment is involved, not when concrete data contradicts the idea of normalcy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems to be normal" functions as a qualifying statement, suggesting that something aligns with expected or typical conditions. It implies an observation or assessment rather than a definitive declaration of normalcy, as supported by Ludwig's examples and its analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

31%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seems to be normal" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something aligns with expectations, although without definitive proof. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, primarily in science, news and media. While it's commonly used to express tentative conclusions or observations, it's important to avoid overstating normalcy when concrete data suggests otherwise. Alternative phrases like "appears to be typical" or "seems to be usual" can provide subtle variations in meaning, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to be typical

Replaces "normal" with "typical" which suggests a pattern or common occurrence.

seems to be usual

Uses "usual" instead of "normal", indicating something that commonly happens or exists.

appears to be typical

Changes "seems" to "appears" and "normal" to "typical", emphasizing the observation of normalcy.

appears to be standard

Substitutes "seems" with "appears" and "normal" with "standard", highlighting the conformity to a recognized criterion.

is considered normal

Shifts the focus to a consensus or accepted view of normalcy.

is regarded as normal

Similar to 'is considered normal', but emphasizes a formal assessment or judgment.

is generally normal

Adds "generally" to indicate that it's normal in most cases, but not necessarily all.

is within the normal range

Replaces "seems to be" with "is within", focusing on quantitative data falling within expected limits.

presents as normal

Implies an outward appearance of normalcy, potentially concealing underlying issues.

suggests normalcy

Emphasizes that the situation hints at being normal without explicitly stating it.

FAQs

How can I use "seems to be normal" in a sentence?

Use "seems to be normal" to suggest that something is in an expected or typical state based on available information. For example, "Although the patient had a fever yesterday, their temperature "seems to be normal" today".

What is a good alternative to "seems to be normal"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "appears to be typical", "seems to be usual", or "is considered normal", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

It is appropriate when you have some indication that something is within expected parameters, but you lack definitive proof. It is best for preliminary assessments rather than final conclusions.

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

"Seems to be normal" implies a degree of uncertainty or observation, while "is normal" asserts a definitive state. The former is used when you're making an assessment based on available information, while the latter is used when you have certain knowledge. For instance: "Based on the examination of the fetuses, Dr. Lanza said, the gaurs "seemed to be normal", not crosses between cows and gaurs", but "The blood pressure is 120/80, that "is normal"".