this sounds promising

USAGE SUMMARY

"this sounds promising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing optimism or strong interest in something. For example: "I just found out about a new job opening - this sounds promising!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

For those who think an important role of public education is taking struggling students and raising their academic performance, this sounds promising.

The New York Times

All this sounds promising for a country beset by failing public administration and systematic corruption, and that looks set to fail all of the UN Millenium Development Goals despite strong economic growth of the last few years.

The Guardian

If you think this sounds promising for the Republicans, I would agree with you, especially since fifty-seven per cent of the respondents described President Obama as "liberal" or "very liberal" and only twenty-three per cent described him as "moderate".

The New Yorker

This sounds promising – and fitting.

The Guardian - Music

All this sounds promising, but Sony seem a bit behind the game.

Independent

All this sounds promising, and the general approach commands a lot of support.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

This sounded promising.

The Guardian

Ms. Segarra says she will not let this happen, which sounds promising.

The New York Times

This sounded promising, but still I waited for a week before I started taking the pills.

The New York Times

Sounds promising.

The New York Times

Sounds promising so far.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this sounds promising" when you want to express optimism or interest in a plan, idea, or situation. It's a versatile phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "this sounds promising". Vary your language with alternatives like "this seems auspicious" or "this looks encouraging" to maintain engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this sounds promising" functions as an expression of positive assessment or expectation. It indicates that something appears to be favorable or likely to succeed, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this sounds promising" is a common and versatile expression used to convey optimism and positive expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It’s frequently found in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid overusing the phrase and consider alternatives like "this seems auspicious" or "this looks encouraging" to maintain engagement. When using "this sounds promising", remember that it inherently carries a positive connotation, suggesting that something has potential and is likely to succeed. Be mindful of potential reservations or counterarguments that may follow this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this seems auspicious

Replaces "promising" with "auspicious", conveying a sense of good fortune and potential success.

this appears hopeful

Substitutes "sounds" with "appears" and "promising" with "hopeful", suggesting a positive but not certain outcome.

this looks encouraging

Uses "looks" instead of "sounds" and "encouraging" instead of "promising", highlighting a visual assessment of positivity.

this bodes well

Employs a more formal and idiomatic expression to indicate a favorable future.

this gives reason for optimism

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the reason for a positive outlook.

this has potential

Focuses on the inherent capability for future success or improvement.

this offers hope

Emphasizes the provision of hope or positive expectation.

things are looking up

An idiomatic expression indicating an improvement in circumstances.

i'm optimistic about this

Shifts the focus to the speaker's personal optimism regarding the situation.

the future looks bright

Generalizes the positive outlook to the future in general.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "this sounds promising"?

You can use alternatives like "this seems auspicious", "this looks encouraging", or "this bodes well" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "this sounds promising"?

The phrase "this sounds promising" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for very formal settings, consider alternatives like "this seems auspicious".

Is "this sounds promising" always positive?

Yes, "this sounds promising" is inherently positive, expressing optimism or strong interest. However, it's often followed by a 'but' to introduce a potential problem or reservation.

How to use "this sounds promising" in a sentence?

You can use "this sounds promising" to react to a new idea or plan, for example: "The new marketing strategy sounds promising, but we need to consider the budget."