Usage of verb "sounds" in written text, when not referring to an actual sound or sounds?

Question

I find myself using sentences like "that sounds great" and "it sounds like a good idea" etc. in written English. What are the formal guidelines here? Do native speakers use the verb "sounds" this way in written text, or is it just a handful of silly foreigners like myself who do?

Answer 1

Hi There,

You're not silly. I think a lot of people do this. I think better words/phrases are "seems" or "appears to be".

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

As a native English speaker, I use "sounds great" in informal writing all of the time. In formal writing, however, you probably want to use different wording. Consider one of the following alternatives:

"seems like"

"appears that"