They appeared happy vs They appeared to be happy

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'They appeared happy' is more concise and informal, while 'They appeared to be happy' is more formal and emphasizes the action of being happy. The choice between them depends on the level of formality you want to convey.

Last updated: March 19, 2024

They appeared happy

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is a concise way to express that someone seemed happy. It is more informal compared to 'They appeared to be happy.'

Examples:

They appeared happy when they received the good news.
Despite the circumstances, they appeared happy throughout the event.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jul 15, 2014 ... Over 222 children died in Bethany Home but 1939 report says they appeared ' happy'. One child was taken to hospital with severe whooping ...
Feb 27, 2015 ... Though they appeared happy while together, Wiz and Amber kept their marital troubles under wraps. Take a look at what we've gathered about ...
Sep 7, 2015 ... In April, the couple denied rumors that a break-up was imminent, and they appeared happy together during a public appearance in July at the ...
May 19, 2015 ... On both occasions they appeared happy and relaxed, despite the recent lawsuit brought against them by their former assistant Gilles De ...

Alternatives:

They seemed happy
They looked happy
They were happy-looking
They came across as happy
They gave the impression of being happy

They appeared to be happy

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the action of being happy. It is suitable for situations where a more formal tone is required.

Examples:

They appeared to be happy with the outcome of the project.
Despite the challenges, they appeared to be happy in each other's company.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jun 18, 2015 ... She adopted the tween girl from China in 2006, and they appeared to be happy together as they made their way through the bustling city.
They could not have been used to convoys of Marines stopping by the road side but they appeared to be happy to see us none-the-less. The three little girls in ...
Jul 25, 2014 ... Growing up, I noticed my mother had this "bad habit" of talking bad about others or cursing them bitterly if they appeared to be happy with their ...
One of the men had his hand on the shoulder of the other and they appeared to be happy and "joking around". [Blank] said she could not see the rear license ...

Alternatives:

They seemed to be happy
It seemed like they were happy
It appeared that they were happy
They looked to be happy
They were perceived to be happy

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They appeared happy vs They appeared to be happy