[Grammar] Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..."?

[JeniferCheng]

Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..."?

When I was a junior high school student, my teacher taught me "appear" cannot show up with "like/as if/as though" ("it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ...") together.

But, I have seen these combinations in many articles, like The New York Times.

Are they correct? Or, Aren't they correct but nobody cares and everybody use it?

 

[Yankee]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

All of the options are OK.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

When I was a junior high school student, my teacher taught me "appear" cannot [STRIKE]show up[/STRIKE] be used with "like/as if/as though" ("it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..."). [STRIKE]together.[/STRIKE]

[STRIKE]But[/STRIKE] However, I have seen these combinations in many articles, in publications like The New York Times.

Are they correct no question mark here or no comma here are [STRIKE]n't[/STRIKE] they incorrect but nobody cares and [STRIKE]everybody[/STRIKE] uses [STRIKE]it[/STRIKE] them anyway?

Please note my corrections above.

As always, please give us complete sentences to consider.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

I don't like appears like. It's awkward to my American ears.

I do like appears as though, appears as if, appears that, and (my favorite) just plain appears.

 

[JeniferCheng]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

Thank emsr2d2 for your correction.

Thank Yankee and Charlie Bernstein for your replying.

I have took notes!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

Thank emsr2d2 for your corrections.

Thank Yankee and Charlie Bernstein for your replying.

You're welcome!

I have taken notes!

Or: I took notes!

Better and better!

 

[Tarheel]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

JenniferCheng, it's good for you to write things down. It will help you remember things. Also, say:

Thank you for your help.

But you don't have to do that. Just press the "Thank" button.
:up:

 

[Tdol]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

I don't like appears like. It's awkward to my American ears.

It's the same to my British ears, but I wouldn't think it wrong if someone else used it.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Re: Can I use "it appears like ...", "it appears as if ...", "it appears as though ..

There's also:

- It looks like . . . .

- It seems . . . .

- It seems as though . . . .