seems to be rather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems to be rather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an opinion or observation that suggests a degree of uncertainty or subjectivity about a situation or characteristic. Example: "The project seems to be rather complicated, requiring more time than initially anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The rate of IPN swelling seems to be rather high.

Polymer

In fact, she seems to be rather enjoying the fight.

Independent

This seems to be rather early in the process.

The New York Times

"Bill" seems to be rather uninformed about the housing market and isn't looking at other places.

Harvard University

For Toyonaka, the response was not pronounced, the expression seems to be rather stable.

Nature

When it comes to the opera, however, it seems to be rather good.

The Guardian

For me, the problem seems to be rather the other way around.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Be that as it may, there seems to be rather a lot of unfinished business.

The Guardian - Business

The chipmunk's diet seems to be rather harmless as far as a gardener is concerned.

The New York Times

All in all, he seems to be rather enjoying this more mellow phase of his career.

The Guardian

Looking back while moving forward seems to be rather a theme here.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems to be rather" when you want to express an opinion or observation that is not a definitive statement but is based on available evidence or impressions. For example, "The data seems to be rather conclusive, suggesting a strong correlation."

Common error

Avoid using "seems to be rather" excessively in formal or scientific writing where objectivity is paramount. Instead, opt for more direct and evidence-based statements whenever possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems to be rather" functions as a qualifier or hedge, softening a statement and indicating a degree of uncertainty or subjectivity. As demonstrated in Ludwig, it's used to express an opinion or observation that isn't a definitive assertion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seems to be rather" serves as a versatile qualifier, adding a touch of subjectivity to observations and assessments. According to Ludwig, it enjoys widespread use across diverse fields like Science, News & Media, and Academia, signalling its adaptable nature. While grammatically sound and prevalent, as verified by Ludwig AI, writers should exercise discretion in formal contexts, balancing nuance with the need for directness. Alternatives such as ""appears to be quite"" or ""seems to be fairly"" offer subtle adjustments to emphasis and tone, enhancing stylistic precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears to be quite

Replaces "seems" with "appears" and "rather" with "quite", maintaining a similar level of uncertainty but with slightly different emphasis.

seems to be fairly

Substitutes "rather" with "fairly", softening the assertion while still conveying a degree of approximation.

seems to be somewhat

Replaces "rather" with "somewhat", indicating a slight degree or extent.

appears to be fairly

Combines "appears" and "fairly" to convey a sense of observation and moderate assessment.

seems to be quite

Replaces "rather" with "quite", intensifying the degree or extent.

seems to be relatively

Substitutes "rather" with "relatively", indicating a comparison to something else.

appears to be somewhat

Combines "appears" and "somewhat" to suggest a tentative observation with a slight degree.

suggests a certain degree of

Offers a more formal and nuanced way of expressing a similar sentiment.

gives the impression of being

Focuses on the perceived impression rather than a direct assertion.

tends to be

Indicates a general inclination or habitual characteristic.

FAQs

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

You can use "seems to be rather" to express a tentative assessment or observation, such as "The experiment "seems to be rather" successful based on initial results."

What are some alternatives to "seems to be rather"?

Alternatives include "appears to be quite", "seems to be fairly", or "suggests a certain degree of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "seems to be rather" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "seems to be rather" might be perceived as less direct than alternatives. Consider the context and audience to determine if a more assertive statement would be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "seems to be rather" and "seems to be quite"?

Both phrases express a degree of uncertainty, but "seems to be quite" can imply a stronger emphasis or degree compared to ""seems to be rather"", which is slightly more moderate.