unless it appears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unless it appears" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a condition that must be met for something to happen or be true, often in a formal or legal context. Example: "The contract will be void unless it appears that both parties have signed it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

And in our media-saturated world, something doesn't exist unless it appears on television".

The New York Times - Arts

Even if no agreement is reached, arrests are rare in property damage cases unless it appears that alcohol, drugs or reckless driving are involved.

The New York Times - Travel

If Berlusconi was dedicated to the idea that "nothing exists unless it appears on television," Grillo has been able to create a major political movement entirely without television — indeed, he forbids members of his movement from appearing on TV talk shows.

The New Yorker

As the Supreme Court said in 1957 in Conley v. Gibson, a lawsuit should be allowed to go forward "unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief".

The New York Times

"More generally, we reject all government data requests from Turkish authorities and push them to formal legal channels unless it appears that there is an immediate threat to life or a child," it said in a statement.

BBC

Note that throughout the rest of this article, the notation [ X] will generally denote the steady-state concentration of species X, unless it appears in the context of a differential equation as in equation (15) where then it necessarily refers to the instantaneous concentration.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

A 25-year-old man said he would suppress the urge to laugh unless it appeared appropriate to his surroundings.

The New York Times - Health

"And when it concentrated itself, it appeared to us in the bodily form of a small and humble human, and he said to us: 'Peace to you, sons of my hidden mysteries.'… the inhabitants of the world cannot bear to see the glory of the only Son of the Father of majesty, unless it appeared for them in the form of their world".

Los Angeles Times

In addition, the row and column pool strategy allowed false positive bands to be excluded from our study since a mutation was never followed unless it appeared in at least one channel in both row and column pool gels.

BMC Genomics

For further analysis, we selected only those genes that had only a single missing value, unless it appeared in one of the extreme fractions, in which case it was not counted as missing but assumed to contain very low amounts of mRNA (Additional File 3).

BMC Genomics

Unless Mr. Bunning relents, it appears that the added unemployment pay will lapse for tens of thousands of people.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unless it appears", ensure the subject of "it" is clearly defined in the context to avoid ambiguity. Clarity is crucial, especially in formal or legal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "unless it appears" when you mean subjective belief or assumption. This phrase indicates something has objectively manifested, not just that someone thinks it has. Instead use "unless it seems" or "unless it is believed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unless it appears" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a condition that, if not met, affects the outcome of the main clause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the examples showcase its use in setting provisos.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unless it appears" is a grammatically sound conditional conjunction used to introduce exceptions or contingencies. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, highlighting its prevalence in neutral to formal contexts such as news media, scientific publications, and legal documents. While "unless it appears" is accurate, it may sound somewhat stilted, particularly in informal conversation, where alternatives like "unless it seems" or "except if it shows" might be more suitable. When employing this phrase, maintain clarity by explicitly defining what "it" refers to, thus ensuring no ambiguity arises.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except if it shows

Replaces "appears" with "shows", indicating a slightly more direct or obvious manifestation.

unless it seems

Substitutes "appears" with "seems", suggesting a subjective assessment rather than objective evidence.

unless it becomes evident

Replaces "appears" with "becomes evident", emphasizing the clarity and obviousness of the condition.

unless it is visible

Focuses on the visual aspect of the appearance, suggesting something must be seen to be considered.

unless it is apparent

Highlights the obviousness of the condition, making it readily noticeable.

unless it is revealed

Suggests a condition that was previously hidden but is now brought to light.

unless it is detected

Implies that the condition needs to be actively found or identified through some means.

unless it manifests

Uses a more formal term "manifests" to denote the appearance or occurrence of something.

unless it materializes

Indicates that something needs to take concrete form or become real.

unless its presence is noted

Emphasizes the act of noticing or acknowledging the existence of something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "unless it appears" for clarity?

To enhance clarity, consider alternatives like "unless it becomes evident", "unless it is shown", or "unless it is visible" depending on the context. Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of appearance or evidence.

Is "unless it appears" suitable for informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "unless it appears" leans towards formal usage. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "unless it looks like" or "unless it seems" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "unless it appears" and "unless it seems"?

"Unless it appears" suggests an objective observation, while "unless it seems" implies a subjective judgment or impression. Choose the phrase that best reflects whether you're describing an objective fact or a personal perception.

When is it best to use "unless it appears" in writing?

Use "unless it appears" in formal writing, legal documents, or technical reports where precise and objective language is crucial. For example, "The contract is valid unless it appears that either party is under duress."