we have seemed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'we have seemed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the perception that something has been in the past - for example, "We have seemed content with our current strategies until now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Often, he was cranky: "This is an astoundingly irresponsible way to govern!" Other times, philosophical: "We have seemed to have lost our way in the objective of governing".

The New York Times

Georgina Baillie's story neatly crowns a horrible year for British women, one in which we have seemed, at times, almost to be invisible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'm convinced that one reason we have seemed to be paralyzed in the face of these crises is the tendency to offer old solutions to each crisis separately without taking the others into account.

The Washington Post

We have seemed like we always wanted more spending, we seemed like we were soft-headed about more spending.

BBC

Since many of what we have in Iran hampers every effort made by a junior entrepreneur, the policies we have seemed to care for the well-established businesses.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We have seem numerous ice gouges in the multibeam data.

The New York Times

Limiting the number of children we have seems like one obvious way to tackle the problem.

Stanford University

That it is fragmentary only makes the pieces we have seem more valuable.

Independent

"But given what we lost, the things we have seem more precious".

The New York Times

"What little manufacturing we have seems to come from consumer demand," said Richard Yamarone, chief economist at Argus Research in New York.

The New York Times

"Talking to people who have managed this problem longer than we have seems to me the very easiest place to start," chided Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we have seemed" to convey a sense of past perception or appearance that may or may not be entirely accurate. This construction is useful for expressing a qualified or subjective viewpoint.

Common error

Avoid relying excessively on "we have seemed" in your writing. Vary your sentence structure with direct statements or stronger verbs to maintain clarity and impact. Overuse can make your writing sound hesitant or uncertain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we have seemed" typically functions as a modal qualifier in a sentence. It expresses a past perception or impression, often indicating a degree of uncertainty or subjectivity. Ludwig AI says that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we have seemed" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing a past perception or impression with a degree of uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, and used in scientific/academic writing as well. When writing with this phrase it's important to be mindful of overuse and choose stronger statements or verbs to maintain clarity and impact. Related phrases like "it appeared that we had" or "we gave the impression of having" provide alternative ways to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appeared that we had

Replaces "seemed" with "appeared", focusing on visual evidence or initial impression.

it looked as if we had

Similar to "appeared", this emphasizes a visual perspective.

we were perceived to have

Emphasizes how others viewed the situation.

we gave the impression of having

Shifts the focus to the impression created rather than a direct perception.

we came across as having

Highlights how the phrase is used to convey an impression through actions.

we projected an image of

Highlights the active creation of an image or perception.

we had the air of

Implies a subtle, often unintentional, impression.

it was believed that we had

Focuses on a general belief or assumption.

we were thought to have

Similar to "believed", but perhaps less formal.

we were under the impression that we had

Focuses on misunderstanding or misconception

FAQs

How can I use "we have seemed" in a sentence?

Use "we have seemed" to express a perception or appearance in the past, often implying a degree of uncertainty or subjectivity. For example, "we have seemed content with the current situation, but there are underlying issues."

What's a more direct alternative to "we have seemed"?

Consider using phrases like "it appeared", "it seemed", or "we appeared" for a more assertive tone. The best choice depends on the context and the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "we" before "have seemed"?

No, the inclusion of "we" depends on the subject you are referring to. You can use "it has seemed" or "she has seemed" depending on what you're describing.

What's the difference between "we have seemed" and "we seemed to be"?

"We have seemed" implies a present perfect perspective, focusing on a past appearance that has relevance now. "We seemed to be" refers to a past state or condition, without necessarily emphasizing its present implications.