this sounds reasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

'this sounds reasonable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express agreement with someone's opinion, or when you think an idea is sensible or acceptable. For example: "We should go for a walk in the park before lunch. This sounds reasonable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

This sounds reasonable.

The New Yorker

This sounds reasonable but isn't.

The New York Times

In theory, this sounds reasonable.

The New York Times

This sounds reasonable, but surely tidying could provide this benefit without the need for obsessive folding?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This sounds reasonable enough, especially when you consider the Met's recent financial woes.

The New Yorker

This sounds reasonable enough, given that the median pay received by the top executives at Kelly's peers was $8.7 million.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

I thought this sounded reasonable.

The Guardian

At first blush, this sounded reasonable.

The New York Times - Magazine

All of this sounded reasonable to everyone but Murray.

The Guardian - Sport

This sounded reasonable to Kearns, so he explained to the Ford engineers exactly how his intermittent wiper worked.

The New Yorker

This sounded reasonable, but worked poorly in practice: once repayments began to be skipped, it was very hard to get them to resume.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this sounds reasonable" to express agreement or acceptance of an idea, suggestion, or explanation, especially when you find it logical or sensible.

Common error

While "this sounds reasonable" is generally acceptable, it might come across as too informal in highly professional or academic settings. Opt for more formal alternatives like "this proposal is logical" or "this approach is justifiable" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this sounds reasonable" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing agreement or acceptance towards a proposal, idea, or situation. It indicates that something appears logical, sensible, or acceptable to the speaker.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this sounds reasonable" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express agreement or acceptance of something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While its register is generally neutral, more formal alternatives may be suitable for academic or professional settings. It appears frequently in news and media sources, reflecting its everyday applicability in evaluating proposals or ideas. Remember to consider context when using this phrase to ensure appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

That seems logical

Replaces "sounds" with "seems" and "reasonable" with "logical", indicating a judgment based on clear, sound reasoning.

That appears plausible

Substitutes "sounds" with "appears" and "reasonable" with "plausible", suggesting an initial credibility but not a definite conclusion.

That seems acceptable

Changes "sounds" to "seems" and "reasonable" to "acceptable", implying that something meets the minimum requirements or standards.

That's a fair point

Shifts from general agreement to acknowledging the validity of a specific argument or statement.

That's a valid argument

Similar to "That's a fair point" but more explicitly refers to an argument being presented.

I find that convincing

Focuses on the speaker's personal feeling of being persuaded by something.

That holds up

Implies that something remains true or valid even under scrutiny.

That resonates with me

Indicates a personal connection or agreement based on shared values or experiences.

That checks out

Informal way of saying that something has been verified or confirmed as correct.

I can get behind that

Expresses support for an idea or plan, indicating willingness to endorse it.

FAQs

How can I use "this sounds reasonable" in a sentence?

You can use "this sounds reasonable" to express agreement with a suggestion or plan. For example, "Implementing the new software system seems complex, but after reviewing the proposal, "this sounds reasonable"."

What phrases are similar to "this sounds reasonable"?

Alternatives to "this sounds reasonable" include "that seems logical", "that appears plausible", or "that seems acceptable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "this sounds reasonable" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "this sounds reasonable" may be too informal for certain academic or professional contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "this approach is justifiable" or "this proposal is logical" in those situations.

What's the difference between "this sounds reasonable" and "this seems reasonable"?

The phrases "this sounds reasonable" and "this seems reasonable" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. However, "sounds" might imply a more immediate, gut-level reaction, while "seems" suggests a more considered judgment.