this seems believable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this seems believable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something appears to be credible or trustworthy based on the information presented. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, I must say that this seems believable and aligns with what we know."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This seems believable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The group was presented with illustrations of the synthesis themes and asked whether this seemed believable and whether anything might be missing, as well as for ideas about how to present findings.

BMJ Open

That result seems believable; the Jazz repeating those results this season also seems believable.

The Guardian - Sport

(Only Georgina Pazcoguin's nurse seems believable in her anguish for Juliet).

The New York Times - Arts

"It certainly seems believable when you start to see pictures," his brother said.

The New York Times

(Lizzy's foul mouth seems believable enough, but I could have done without the repeated references to flatulence).

The New York Times

If just about anything seems believable, it is because the money involved is so dramatic: a thousand dollars for a place in a dinghy, $2,500 in a wooden boat, over 350,000 refugees passing through this one island, this year alone.

The Guardian

It seems believable that he manages to emerge confidently from his encounter with the cartoonish dragon of Robert Lepage's staging, which returned to the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday afternoon with Jay Hunter Morris in the role.

The New York Times - Arts

The Lakers plan to defend, too, Howard said, and that seemed believable coming from a three-time defensive player of the year.

The New York Times - Sports

In general, it seems believable that interstellar conflicts between civilizations would remain rare.

Acta Astronautica

The logic seems believable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this seems believable" when you want to express that something appears to be true or likely based on the available information, but you are not making a definitive assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "this seems believable" when you have concrete evidence or proof; instead, state the fact directly. For example, rather than saying "Based on the data, this seems believable," say "The data confirms this."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this seems believable" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing an opinion about the plausibility or credibility of something. As Ludwig AI points out, it indicates that something aligns with what is considered credible based on available data, without stating it as fact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

27%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this seems believable" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that something appears credible based on available information. As determined by Ludwig AI, it functions as an evaluative statement and serves to convey a judgment about the plausibility of a statement or situation. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, with frequent usage in news and media, science, and wiki sources. While various alternatives exist to express similar sentiments, this phrase remains a straightforward and widely understood way to indicate that something appears to be true without definitive proof.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this appears plausible

Replaces "seems" with "appears" and "believable" with "plausible", offering a slightly more formal tone.

this sounds credible

Substitutes "seems" with "sounds" and "believable" with "credible", focusing on the auditory aspect of believability.

this is likely true

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct assertion of truth, indicating a higher degree of confidence.

this is probably accurate

Uses "probably accurate" to convey a sense of likely correctness, but with a slightly less certain tone than "likely true".

this holds water

An idiomatic expression meaning the statement is consistent and logical.

this rings true

An idiomatic expression suggesting the statement feels authentic or genuine.

this checks out

An informal phrase suggesting the statement has been verified or confirmed.

this is conceivable

Indicates that something is possible to imagine or believe, even if not necessarily probable.

this is within the realm of possibility

A more elaborate way of expressing that something is possible but not guaranteed.

this stands to reason

Suggests the statement is logical and coherent.

FAQs

How can I use "this seems believable" in a sentence?

You can use "this seems believable" to express that something appears to be true or credible based on the available information. For example: "After reviewing the evidence, "this seems believable" and aligns with what we know."

What can I say instead of "this seems believable"?

You can use alternatives like "this appears plausible", "this sounds credible", or "this is likely true" depending on the context.

Is "this seems believable" formal or informal?

"This seems believable" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "this appears plausible" may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "this seems believable" and "this is believable"?

"This seems believable" indicates a degree of uncertainty or assessment based on available information, while "this is believable" suggests a stronger conviction or acceptance of the statement as true.