which appears to

USAGE SUMMARY

"which appears to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a statement that indicates what seems to be the case based on available evidence. For example: "The economy is in a downturn, which appears to be the result of increasing taxes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which appears to be legalese for: "You want your money?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

None of which appears to stick in O'Reilly's memory.

The Washington Post

She probably walked until near the time of her death, which appears to have come suddenly.

Stanford University

And there is the kob migration, which appears to run right through Karuturi's concession.

Yale University

Waxed small statuette which appears to be in bad condition, and took it up.

Harvard University

Art has become a business, which appears to serve only the needs of the art market.

The Guardian - Opinion

None of which appears to bear any great relation to what happens at his live performances.

The Guardian - Music

Hammond pledged £1.4bn for 40,000 "affordable" homes, which appears to be just £35,000 each.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Liberal Democrats raised £3m in the quarter, which appears to be better than expected.

The Guardian

Oxford sent its patients to Southampton, an arrangement which appears to have become permanent.

The Guardian

Several sheets fly into the air, one of which appears to be covered with Arabic script.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which appears to" to introduce observations or conclusions that are based on the available evidence but are not definitively proven. This adds a layer of caution and indicates that the statement is subject to further verification.

Common error

Avoid using "which appears to" when stating facts that are already well-established or self-evident. This can make your writing sound redundant or lacking in confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which appears to" functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause, introducing a statement that reflects an observation or inference based on available evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the relative clause "which appears to" is a versatile phrase for expressing observations or inferences with a degree of uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical soundness and common usage across diverse contexts. Primarily featured in News & Media, Academia, and Scientific publications, this phrase enables writers to present qualified assertions and tentative conclusions effectively. When writing, remember to use it to introduce observations grounded in available evidence, avoiding self-evident statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which seems to

Replaces "appears" with "seems", indicating a subjective impression rather than a definitive observation.

that seems to be

Identical in meaning but uses a different grammatical construction.

which suggests that

Uses "suggests that" to convey an implication based on evidence, rather than a direct appearance.

which indicates that

Emphasizes the role of evidence in pointing towards a particular conclusion.

which would seem to

Adds a conditional "would" to soften the assertion, suggesting a tentative conclusion.

which one can infer to

Highlights the process of drawing a conclusion through reasoning.

that gives the impression of

Shifts the focus to the impression created, rather than direct appearance.

what we understand to be

Introduces an element of personal understanding or interpretation.

that leads one to believe

Focuses on the belief formed as a result of observation.

that one might assume to

Emphasizes the assumption made based on the presented information

FAQs

How can I use "which appears to" in a sentence?

Use "which appears to" to introduce a clause that expresses something that seems likely or evident based on the available information, but isn't definitively proven. For example: "The company's profits are declining, "which appears to" be a result of increased competition".

What are some alternatives to "which appears to"?

Alternatives include "which seems to", "which suggests that", or "which indicates that". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "which appears to be" or "that appears to be"?

"Which appears to be" is generally preferred when the clause is nonrestrictive, providing additional information but not essential to the sentence's meaning. "That appears to be" is used for restrictive clauses that are essential for identifying what is being referred to.

What's the difference between "which appears to" and "which is"?

"Which is" states a fact or definition, whereas "which appears to" introduces something that seems to be the case based on observation or inference, implying a degree of uncertainty or possibility.