Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
they seems
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'they seems' is not correct.
You should use 'they seem'. Example: They seem happy to help.
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
21 human-written examples
The failure modes were also analyzed, and they seems to be affected by the nanoclay addition to face sheets.
Science
That "they" seems to apply to a wider group than just her dance peers.
News & Media
But they seems highly likely to strain relations with the Chinese even further.
News & Media
Even from Krugman's point of view, the use of "they" seems premature with a Republican President and a hard-to-elect Democratic frontrunner candidate in the wings.
News & Media
If the flimsy entrance canopy and covered walkways are intended as a riff on Los Angeles's pop culture traditions, they seems no more than an afterthought.
News & Media
Not are the non-steamed oats apparently more nutritious (although Harold McGee disputes this), but, after testing a standard recipe from the Ballymaloe Cookery School bible, they seems to retain a stronger, more distinctive flavour, and a more interesting texture.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
39 human-written examples
Do they seem confident?
News & Media
They seemed pathetic.
News & Media
They seem fresh here.
News & Media
Instead, they seemed immune.
News & Media
"They seemed very artsy.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always ensure subject-verb agreement. With plural subjects like "they", use the base form of the verb, such as "seem" instead of "seems".
Common error
Do not mistakenly use the singular verb form "seems" with plural subjects like "they", "we", or plural nouns. This error often occurs due to oversight or when writing quickly. Always double-check for agreement in your sentences.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "they seems" is an instance of incorrect subject-verb agreement. The pronoun "they", being plural, requires the plural form of the verb, which is "seem". Ludwig AI identifies this as an error, despite its occurrence in some sources. The function should correctly use "they seem" to form a grammatical subject and verb.
Frequent in
News & Media
38%
Science
43%
Wiki
19%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "they seems" demonstrates a common grammatical error involving subject-verb disagreement. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "they seem". While Ludwig provides numerous examples of the incorrect usage, these instances should be viewed as errors to avoid rather than accepted patterns. Correcting this error is crucial for maintaining clarity and credibility in writing, especially in formal and scientific contexts. Consider using alternative phrases like "they appear" to convey similar meanings with proper grammar.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
they appear
Replaces "seems" with "appear", both conveying a similar sense of observation or impression but correcting the grammatical agreement.
they do seem
Adds "do" to emphasize the seeming quality, while still correcting the subject-verb agreement.
they seem to be
Adds "to be" to clarify the state or condition being observed, correcting the grammatical issue.
it seems to them
Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the perspective of "them", using the correct verb form for "it".
they might seem
Introduces a degree of uncertainty or possibility with "might", while using the correct verb form.
they would seem
Suggests a hypothetical or conditional appearance, correcting the subject-verb agreement.
they could seem
Similar to "they might seem", this expresses a potential or conditional appearance.
they have seemed
Shifts the tense to the present perfect, indicating something that has appeared a certain way over time.
they are seemingly
Uses the adverb "seemingly" to describe their state, correctly pairing with the auxiliary verb "are".
they have the appearance of
Replaces "seem" with a noun phrase, indicating that they give off a certain impression.
FAQs
How do I correct the phrase "they seems"?
The correct phrase is "they seem". The verb must agree with the plural subject "they".
What's a good alternative to "they seems" that maintains a similar meaning?
Consider using alternatives like "they appear" or "it seems to them", depending on the context.
Is "they seems" ever grammatically correct?
No, "they seems" is never grammatically correct. The correct form is "they seem". Using the incorrect verb form results in a subject-verb disagreement error.
How does the meaning change if I use "they seem" instead of "they seems"?
Using "they seem" corrects a grammatical error and ensures your sentence is clear and understandable. "They seems" is incorrect and may confuse readers. It is always recommended to use the grammatically correct form. Consider also "they do seem" for emphasis.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested