Seem and appear are two verbs used to describe impressions or how something looks or feels to someone. Both can mean “to give the impression of being” but differ slightly in usage and tone.
Meaning and Usage
- Seem expresses a general impression or belief, often based on feelings, intuition, or indirect evidence.
- Appear focuses more on outward looks or how something presents itself, sometimes based on visible facts or observation.
Seem - Meaning and Nuance
- Used to describe how something looks, feels, or sounds to someone.
- Often based on indirect evidence, opinion, or guesswork.
- More common and neutral in tone.
- Can be followed by adjectives, nouns, or even clauses.
Appear - Meaning and Nuance
- Emphasizes visible or noticeable qualities.
- Sometimes sounds a bit more formal or objective.
- Often used to describe something that becomes visible or comes into view.
- Can be followed by adjectives, prepositional phrases (often “to be”), or infinitives.
Examples
- She seems tired today. (general impression)
- He appears tired after the long trip. (visible signs)
- The solution seems simple enough. (judgment)
- Mistakes appear on the screen. (become visible)
- They seem happy with the results. (general feeling)
- She appears to be the manager. (looks like / seems to be)
Tips for Choosing
- Use seem for general impressions, feelings, or guesses.
- Use appear when talking about how something looks, especially if it’s about becoming visible or showing a particular quality.
- In formal writing, appear is often preferred.
- Don’t confuse appear with the noun appearance (though they are related).
Which verb is often preferred in formal writing?
appear
Appear tends to be more formal and is often preferred in academic or professional writing.
When is appear the better choice?
Use appear when something looks a certain way, especially if it becomes visible or shows a quality.
Appear is suitable for describing how something looks, especially when it becomes visible or displays a particular quality.
Common Structures
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| seem + adjective | She seems happy. |
| seem + noun | He seems a expert. |
| seem + clause | It seems that we’re lost. |
| appear + adjective | They appear ready. |
| appear + to + verb | She appears to know him. |
| appear + prepositional phrase | He appears to be in charge. |
In summary, seem is about general impressions or beliefs, while appear relates more to outward looks or visible signs. Both are useful for describing how things are perceived, but context and tone will guide your choice.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
