under the appearance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under the appearance" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that something is hidden or disguised by its outward appearance. It can be used in various situations, such as to describe someone's true feelings or intentions that are masked by their actions or appearance. Example: "Under the appearance of confidence, she was actually feeling quite nervous about the presentation." Example: "Under the appearance of being a friendly neighbor, he was actually spying on the entire neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Under the "Appearance heading," check the "Show Home Button" and see if Bing appears.

WikiHow

The Widgets interface is under the Appearance menu in the Dashboard.

Princeton University

To do this, visit Menu under the Appearance menu and remove the Blog menu item under the Main Menu.

Yale University

Rick Hertzberg warned yesterday against a too-hasty decision made by Obama under the appearance of pressure.

The New Yorker

This court should not, under the appearance of enforcing the election laws, defeat the very object which those law are intended to achieve.

The New York Times

Under this circumstance, previously developed approaches for deterministic systems are rarely employed for the stability analysis under the appearance of nonlinear perturbations.

Advances in Difference Equations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In the sacrificial banquet of the mass, the church accepts Christ's invitation to eat his body and drink his blood under the appearances of the consecrated bread and wine.

Britannica

Some, according to the pollster, were having doubts as to whether or not Jesus Christ, son of God, son of Mary, is really and truly present under the appearances of bread and wine on our altars and in our tabernacles.

The New York Times

You should see it listed as a choice for skins under the appearances tab.

WikiHow

The lowest MDs between the two groups were tied with the conformance item (MD = −.08) under reliability and the appearance item (MD = −.09) under tangibility.

Fashion and Textiles

This year, a similar debate is under way regarding the appearance in the magazine of plus-size model Ashley Graham.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "under the appearance" to introduce a contrast between how something seems and its true nature, especially when implying deception or a hidden reality.

Common error

Avoid using "under the appearance" when simply describing something's surface-level characteristics without implying a hidden or contradictory truth. The phrase carries a connotation of something being deliberately concealed or misrepresented.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under the appearance" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It introduces a condition or circumstance where the outward presentation or facade is contrasted with an underlying reality. Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "under the appearance" serves to highlight a discrepancy between outward presentation and underlying reality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While relatively rare, its usage spans across news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to imply a contrast between what is seen and what is truly the case. While phrases like "beneath the surface" or "ostensibly" offer similar meanings, the best choice depends on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beneath the surface

This alternative highlights what is not immediately obvious and lies hidden.

veiled by

Implies something is obscured or concealed by a covering.

masked by

Suggests a deliberate attempt to hide something.

concealed by

Indicates that something is hidden or not easily noticeable.

disguised as

Highlights a deceptive outward form.

ostensibly

This adverb suggests something appears to be true but may not be.

outwardly

Focuses on the external presentation or behavior.

superficially

Emphasizes a lack of depth or genuine substance.

on the face of it

Indicates an initial impression that may differ from the reality.

seemingly

Implies an appearance that might not be entirely accurate.

FAQs

What does "under the appearance of" mean?

It means that something is presenting a particular outward image or semblance, which may conceal its true nature or underlying reality.

How can I use "under the appearance" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe situations where something is not as it seems, such as: "Under the appearance of calm, she was incredibly nervous."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "under the appearance of"?

Alternatives include "beneath the surface", "masked by", or "ostensibly" depending on the intended nuance.

Is there a difference between "under the appearance" and "under the guise of"?

While similar, "under the guise of" often implies a more deliberate act of deception, whereas "under the appearance" can simply suggest a misleading outward impression.