this looks odd

USAGE SUMMARY

"this looks odd" is a correct and usable part of a written sentence in English.
You can use it to indicate that something appears to be strange or unusual. For example: "When I looked at the painting, this looks odd; the colors didn't seem to match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This looks odd, given that the dollar fell by 19% against the euro over the period.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Or would this look odd on my CV?

The Guardian

A new scheme, the Work Programme, offers payment by results to providers for placing the long-term unemployed in jobs and keeping them there).To some foreign observers, this reticence about private involvement looks odd.

The Economist

12.12pm: Harrison Ford looks odd, I think, at this age, without a single ill-advised earring.

The Guardian - Film

This doesn't impair the flavour, but it looks odd.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It looks odd, too.

Independent

It looked odd then, and it looks odd today.

The New York Times

Now it immediately looks odd.

The Guardian - Business

But in other ways the timing looks odd.

The Economist

Funny how? Well he looks odd, for one thing.

The Guardian

In my view, it looks odd and distracting to refer to a lowercase "tea party".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this looks odd" to express a subjective observation about something appearing strange or out of place. Ensure the context makes it clear what 'this' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "this looks odd" without a clear antecedent. The reader should immediately understand what 'this' refers to; otherwise, the statement becomes confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this looks odd" functions as an observation or assessment. It expresses a subjective judgment about the appearance of something, indicating that it deviates from what is expected or normal. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this looks odd" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote that something appears strange or unusual. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. While "this" needs a clear referent to avoid confusion, the phrase is a straightforward way to express a subjective observation. Consider alternatives like "this seems strange" or "this appears unusual" for varying degrees of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this seems strange

Changes the verb from 'looks' to 'seems', suggesting a slightly more tentative assessment.

this appears strange

Replaces 'looks' with 'appears', lending a more formal tone to the observation.

this feels strange

Shifts the focus from visual appearance to a general sense of strangeness.

this is peculiar

Uses 'peculiar' to denote something unusual or eccentric.

this is unusual

Replaces 'odd' with 'unusual', suggesting a deviation from the norm.

this is weird

Employs 'weird', making the statement more informal and colloquial.

this is fishy

Uses 'fishy' to imply suspicion or dishonesty in addition to strangeness.

this raises eyebrows

Idiomatic expression suggesting the situation is causing surprise or disapproval.

this gives me pause

Implies that something is causing hesitation or concern.

this is out of place

Suggests something is not where it belongs or is inappropriate for the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "this looks odd" in a sentence?

You can use "this looks odd" to express that something appears strange or unusual. For example: "The data doesn't match the previous reports; "this looks odd"".

What's a more formal way to say "this looks odd"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "this appears strange" or "this seems unusual". These options offer a slightly more professional feel.

Which is correct, "this looks odd" or "this is looking odd"?

"This looks odd" is generally preferred because it describes a state of being. "This is looking odd" implies an ongoing action, which is less common but can be correct in specific contexts.

What can I say instead of "this looks odd" to express suspicion?

To imply suspicion, you could use alternatives like "this seems fishy" or "this is suspicious". These convey a sense of doubt or mistrust.