this seems unusual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this seems unusual" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something appears to be out of the ordinary or unexpected. Example: "After reviewing the data, I must say that this seems unusual for our typical results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She's hungry, however; she's walking around, not looking sick, and this seems unusual.

The New Yorker

None of this seems unusual to Mrs. Perez -- simply part of the mystery of life.

The New York Times

This seems unusual - Why utilize a PP-loop ATPase for the reverse reaction, i.e. amidohydrolase?

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This seemed unusual for a second-year tight end.

The New York Times - Sports

This seemed unusual, since court proceedings are open to the public".

The New York Times

"This seemed unusual, as overall only 0.8% of all our customers had used Ticketmaster," said Natasha Vernier, head of Financial Crime at Monzo, in the statement.

TechCrunch

This situation seems unusual, but not without any precedent.

Protein & Cell

James McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research and author of the book Digital Disruption, admits this idea seems unusual for IBM, but he says there is a good reason the company is trying to build these practices.

TechCrunch

9 10 Since diagnosis sets the stage for treatment, this oversight seems unusual.

BMJ Quality and Safety

The traditional order of this list seems unusual but the list divides the body components into two classes - solid matter and liquid matter.

WikiHow

We may be used to politics becoming impassioned just ahead of an important vote in this country; what seems unusual this time is the extent to which journalists have been tarred with the same brush as the political elites in Westminster and the City.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing quantitative data or results that differ from your expectations in scientific articles, combining “this seems unusual” with a follow-up sentence of statistical values and relevant references will sound more persuasive.

Common error

Avoid using "this seems unusual" as a standalone statement without providing context or explanation. Always follow up with why it seems unusual to maintain clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this seems unusual" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a subjective assessment of something as being out of the ordinary or unexpected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct way to convey a sense of surprise or deviation from the norm.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this seems unusual" is a versatile phrase used to express a sense of surprise or deviation from the norm. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and widely applicable across various contexts. While the phrase is common in news, scientific, and general writing, it's important to provide context to clarify why something seems unusual. Alternatives like "this appears strange" or "this strikes me as odd" can be used to subtly shift the tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this appears strange

Replaces "seems" with "appears" and "unusual" with "strange", slightly reducing formality.

this is somewhat unexpected

Focuses on the lack of anticipation, making it a milder expression of surprise.

this strikes me as odd

Uses a more personal and emphatic expression, highlighting the speaker's subjective perception.

this looks out of place

Suggests something is not fitting in or is inappropriate for the context.

this is quite peculiar

Employs "peculiar", suggesting something subtly strange or eccentric, and "quite" to add emphasis.

this is rather exceptional

Indicates something is significantly different from the norm, possibly in a positive way.

this departs from expectations

Highlights the discrepancy between the current situation and anticipated outcomes.

this deviates from the norm

More formal and analytical, emphasizing a departure from a standard or expected pattern.

this is a deviation from the standard

Focuses on the departure from established criteria or expectations.

this presents a divergence

Highly formal and technical, suggesting a measurable difference or deviation.

FAQs

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

You can use "this seems unusual" to express surprise or indicate a deviation from the expected. For example, "The patient's recovery rate is much faster than anticipated; "this seems unusual"".

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

You can use alternatives like "this appears strange", "this strikes me as odd", or "this is somewhat unexpected" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "this seems unusual" or "this seems unusually"?

"This seems unusual" is correct because "unusual" is an adjective describing "this". "Unusually" is an adverb and would be appropriate if modifying a verb (e.g., "this behaves unusually").

What's the difference between "this seems unusual" and "this seems odd"?

While similar, ""this seems unusual"" implies a deviation from a known pattern or expectation. "This seems odd" suggests something is strange or peculiar but doesn't necessarily imply a deviation from a known norm. "This seems odd" might also indicate something is wrong in a way that "this seems unusual" does not.