seems undamaged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems undamaged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an object or item that appears to be intact or not harmed. Example: "After the storm passed, the house seems undamaged, with no visible signs of destruction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr Blair's determination to dictate the Scottish Labour Party's tax policy in this situation seems to violate the entire spirit of how his party has, together with the Liberal Democrats and others, proposed that the Edinburgh parliament should operate.So far, Labour's campaign in Scotland seems undamaged by Mr Blair's intervention.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Two external fuel tanks for the space shuttle were in the building but seemed undamaged.

Wikipedia

Shahaf contacted Samia shortly after the al-Durrah incident to say he had noticed an anomaly, namely that the concrete drum itself seemed undamaged, though the people sheltering behind it were alleged to have been hit from a direction that should have seen the drum punctured too.

Wikipedia

Some areas are nothing but rubble; others seem almost undamaged.

The New York Times - Science

But this aircraft seems to be virtually undamaged," he said.

The Guardian

"It seemed young and undamaged by the war".

The New York Times - Arts

We were not able to explain the invasion of the bacteria through the cell wall, because the invaded cells seemed to be undamaged, however, although rare, this observation supports previous experiments with Arabidopsis which demonstrated that Salmonella has the ability to invade plant cells.

Plosone

At first blush,"unharmed" seems like the wrong word for someone who is dead, but then again, "undamaged" feels even worse.

Vice

Although undamaged origins are reported to initiate as normal after irradiation [45], and some hemimethylated DNA should be present in the irradiated cells, the results from Figure 7 show that the SeqA protein seems to interact with most of the compacted repair site DNA.

Plosone

While much of the town was undamaged, the attack seemed aimed at important civilian structures like a supermarket and a post office, the reports said.

The New York Times

Fifa might have been at best a secretive organisation, at worst a corrupt one, but as long as it stayed in the background and the World Cup was undamaged few people seemed to mind.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems undamaged" when you want to convey an initial assessment based on appearance, leaving open the possibility of hidden or internal damage. It's useful in situations where a thorough inspection hasn't been conducted.

Common error

Avoid using "seems undamaged" as a definitive statement of a subject's condition, especially after a potentially damaging event. It suggests a preliminary assessment, so ensure a proper inspection follows to confirm the absence of any hidden damage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems undamaged" functions as a qualifier describing the apparent condition of a subject. It suggests a visual assessment indicating a lack of visible harm. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seems undamaged" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for describing something that appears to be intact or without harm, based on initial observation. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and helpful phrase for situations where a full inspection hasn't been completed. While the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. Remember to use it when you want to convey an initial assessment and to follow up with a thorough inspection to confirm the condition. Alternatives such as "appears intact", "looks unharmed", and "appears unscathed" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in nuance. Despite its common usage, overstating a subject's condition before a complete evaluation can lead to misinterpretations so make sure to perform a full assessment before confirming a non-damaged state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears intact

Indicates the subject looks complete and whole, with no parts missing or broken.

looks unharmed

Emphasizes the absence of injury or damage based on visual inspection.

appears unscathed

Suggests the subject has passed through a potentially damaging event without suffering any harm.

seems unaffected

Indicates the subject does not show any signs of being influenced or changed by an event.

looks pristine

Implies the subject is in its original condition, as if new or untouched.

appears to be in good condition

A more general statement about the subject's state, implying functionality and lack of visible issues.

looks sound

Suggests the subject is structurally stable and reliable based on appearance.

appears serviceable

Indicates the subject is ready for use and shows no signs of impairment that would prevent it from functioning.

seems to have survived

Suggests the subject has overcome a difficult or destructive event and remains in a functional state.

looks as good as new

A more emphatic statement about the subject's condition, implying it has been restored or maintained to a like-new state.

FAQs

How can I use "seems undamaged" in a sentence?

You can use "seems undamaged" to describe something that, upon initial observation, does not appear to have suffered any harm. For example: "After the storm, the house "appears intact" but we still need to check the foundation."

What are some alternatives to using "seems undamaged"?

Alternatives to "seems undamaged" include "appears unscathed", "looks unharmed", or "appears intact". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "seems undamaged" or should I use a different phrasing?

The phrase "seems undamaged" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It's a perfectly acceptable way to describe something that appears to be in good condition after an event, but further inspection might be needed to be certain.

What is the difference between "seems undamaged" and "is undamaged"?

"Seems undamaged" indicates an initial impression, whereas "is undamaged" implies a confirmed state. You would use "seems undamaged" when you haven't yet conducted a thorough inspection. "The car seems undamaged, but we need to check the engine" versus "The car is undamaged; the mechanic inspected it thoroughly".