something seemed amiss

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "something seemed amiss" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that there is something wrong or out of place in a situation. Example: "As I walked into the room, I noticed that the lights were off and the door was slightly ajar; something seemed amiss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Something seemed amiss here.

The New Yorker

Right away, something seemed amiss.

The New Yorker

Later, thinking about the layout, she realized something seemed amiss.

The New York Times

But something seemed amiss on this afternoon, as it has almost every weekend for more than a year.

The New York Times

She said the system enabled Tower Hamlets officials to "see that something seemed amiss".

The Guardian

His office wouldn't offer any hints as to what he might do, though one aide suggested that something seemed amiss.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Still, for Tanner, something seems amiss.

The New York Times - Sports

"Something seems amiss with this Swiss miss," an unseen narrator says archly.

The New York Times - Arts

In the N.B.A. something seems amiss with the latest allegations against union chief Billy Hunter, which Yahoo.com reports include him trying to steer business to a bank affiliated with his brother.

The New York Times - Sports

Buyers don't care, banks are happy, but something seems amiss.

Forbes

Yet something seems amiss, for the person is guilty of ignorance, not of gross inconsistency.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something seemed amiss" to subtly indicate a problem without explicitly stating what it is. It is effective when setting a tone of unease or foreshadowing.

Common error

Avoid using "something seemed amiss" in very casual or informal conversations. Simpler phrases like "something felt off" or "something wasn't right" are more appropriate in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something seemed amiss" functions as an idiomatic expression used to express a feeling of unease or suspicion that something is not quite right. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, showing various examples where it sets a tone of subtle concern.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "something seemed amiss" is a phrase used to express a feeling that something is not quite right. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best used in situations where a subtle hint of unease is desired, avoiding overuse in overly casual settings. The phrase carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for a range of educated audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something felt off

Replaces "seemed amiss" with a more informal verb, "felt", and a simpler adjective, "off".

something was not right

Uses a more direct and common expression to indicate that something was wrong.

something was fishy

Employs a colloquial term, "fishy", to suggest that something is suspicious or questionable.

something was suspicious

Replaces "amiss" with the more explicit adjective "suspicious".

I sensed something was wrong

Adds a personal perspective, indicating the speaker's feeling that something was wrong.

I detected a problem

Emphasizes the act of noticing a problem.

an issue was apparent

Focuses on the visibility of the problem.

there was a hint of trouble

Suggests a subtle indication of a problem.

it gave me bad vibes

Uses a very informal and subjective expression to convey a negative feeling.

things didn't quite add up

Indicates that the details of a situation were inconsistent or illogical.

FAQs

What does "something seemed amiss" mean?

It means that there was a feeling or indication that something was not as it should be; something felt wrong or out of place.

What can I say instead of "something seemed amiss"?

You can use alternatives like "something felt off", "something was not right", or "something was fishy" depending on the context.

Is "something seemed amiss" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for news articles and narrative writing. It is less formal than highly technical language but more formal than very casual expressions.

How to use "something seemed amiss" in a sentence?

For example: "As I walked into the room, I noticed that the lights were off and the door was slightly ajar; "something seemed amiss".