seems to be offline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems to be offline" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something or someone is not currently connected to the internet or is not operational. Example: "The server seems to be offline, preventing users from accessing the website."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And in that very same thread, former senior developer at Userplane Nick Schneble touted his new startup TopicFox, an alternative to the service ( although it seems to be offline now – the website now reads the service was discontinued over a conflict of interest with Userplane).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The program's default options were set to make users appear to be offline.

The New York Times - Tech

Making the links between pieces of information that our daytime rational minds see as separate seems to be easiest when we're offline, drifting through the dreamworld.

BBC

While influence-peddling is strictly regulated in the offline world, it seems to be allowed in the virtual realm Twitter users made its impact even greater by combining it with sales-promotion-like techniques.

The Economist

And interestingly, there seems to be a trend of online blending with offline when it comes to commerce.

TechCrunch

But the amount of offline-only content seems to be diminishing.

The Guardian

Offline tracking, though, still seems to be a concern.

The New York Times

The email service, the world's biggest, went offline on December 26th but seems to be working again.

Independent

However, none of them seems to be complete in assessing in both realtime and offline modes if a system remains free of such types of attacks.

Computer Communications

We also thought that it's kind of a pity that the rich Demoscene still seems to be kind of stuck in exploring Desktop and offline technologies.

Vice

There seems to be a shared need for developing global online and offline support resources and communities of practice to support nurse educators in their teaching and research endeavours.

Nurse Education in Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seems to be offline", ensure the context clearly indicates what is disconnected (e.g., a website, a person, a system).

Common error

Avoid assuming "seems to be offline" always means a technical issue; it could also indicate user preference (e.g., appearing offline on a chat app).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems to be offline" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a perceived state of disconnection or unavailability. It suggests an observation about the current status of something, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seems to be offline" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that appears disconnected or unavailable. While Ludwig identifies it as usable in written English, its frequency is uncommon. The phrase is suitable for neutral contexts like news reports and general discussions, with primary use in news and media. When writing, ensure the context clearly defines what is offline to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases such as ""appears to be disconnected"" or ""looks to be down"" can provide more nuance depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears to be disconnected

Focuses on the disconnection aspect, implying a break in communication.

appears to be unavailable

Highlights the lack of accessibility, suggesting it might be temporary.

looks to be down

More informal, suggesting a system or service is not functioning.

seems to be unreachable

Indicates the inability to establish a connection or communication.

presents as non-operational

More formal and technical, referring to a system or device.

is apparently not online

Emphasizes the lack of internet connectivity.

gives the impression of being down

Highlights the perceived state of being non-functional.

suggests a state of disconnection

Focuses on the implied status of being disconnected.

indicates a temporary interruption

Implies a short-term break in service or connectivity.

projects an image of inactivity

Describes the impression of being not active or functional.

FAQs

What does "seems to be offline" mean?

It means that something or someone appears to be disconnected from the internet or is not currently functioning or available.

What can I say instead of "seems to be offline"?

You can use alternatives like "appears to be disconnected", "appears to be unavailable", or "looks to be down", depending on the context.

How do I use "seems to be offline" in a sentence?

For example, "The website seems to be offline; I can't access it." or "He seems to be offline on the messaging app."

Is it appropriate to use "seems to be offline" in a formal context?

While generally acceptable, in formal or technical contexts, consider more precise alternatives like "presents as non-operational" or "seems to be unreachable" for enhanced clarity and professionalism.