Dispel a doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Dispel a doubt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to clarify or eliminate uncertainty or skepticism about a particular issue or statement. Example: "The expert's explanation helped to dispel a doubt that many had regarding the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This should dispel a potential point of doubt by confirming that the output distribution provided by the teacher in our experiments is sufficiently soft and not so peaked as to be indistinguishable from hard targets based on the class of the teacher's maximum prediction.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

The goal was to minimize confusion and dispel any doubt that a generic was therapeutically equivalent to the brand-name drug.

The New York Times

Scalia argued that the president could always issue a statement to dispel any doubt over US policy toward Jerusalem, and noted the contrast in US policy toward China and Taiwan, which is similarly disputed but which can be listed on US passports.

The Guardian

A GLANCE at the week's events should dispel any doubt that the holidays are fast approaching.

The New York Times

Either way, this set will be wicked enough to dispel all doubt.

The New York Times - Arts

Fortunately, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has stepped forward to dispel any doubt.

The Washington Post

It must be specific enough to dispel all doubt about Germany's commitment to saving the euro.

The Economist

She wrote separately, she said, to dispel any doubt about the Supreme Court's tolerance of such comments.

The New York Times

This video should dispel any doubt about Microsoft's target demographic for the Kinect.

TechCrunch

This audit should dispel any doubt about how the trusts are spending their money.

Los Angeles Times

To dispel any doubt we validated every observed mosaic CNVs by qPCR.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dispel a doubt" when you want to emphasize the action of actively removing uncertainty or skepticism, typically through providing evidence or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "dispel a doubt" when the situation requires a more comprehensive solution than just addressing a single doubt. If widespread uncertainty or systemic issues are present, consider broader strategies instead of focusing on dispelling individual doubts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dispel a doubt" functions as a verb phrase where "dispel" acts as a transitive verb taking "a doubt" as its object. It describes the action of removing or eliminating a particular uncertainty. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dispel a doubt" is grammatically correct and functions to describe the removal of uncertainty through clarification or evidence. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase sees usage in news, science, and more formal settings, reflecting a relatively neutral register. While "dispel a doubt" is acceptable, it's important to consider whether a single doubt is the core issue, or whether a broader strategy is needed to address widespread uncertainty. There are several alternatives for this phrase, like "eliminate uncertainty" or "resolve a question".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Eradicate a suspicion

This alternative emphasizes the complete removal of a suspicion.

Remove skepticism

This alternative targets the feeling of doubt or disbelief.

Eliminate uncertainty

This option focuses on removing the state of being uncertain.

Resolve a question

This suggests finding an answer to a specific question that causes doubt.

Address misgivings

This suggests directly dealing with feelings of doubt or apprehension.

Clarify an ambiguity

This highlights making something unclear, clear.

Alleviate concerns

This focuses on reducing worries that might be causing doubt.

Substantiate a claim

This focuses on providing evidence to support a statement, reducing doubt.

Confirm a hypothesis

This focuses on verifying a scientific hypothesis to remove potential doubt about it.

Validate a concern

This focuses on checking the authenticity of a concern, that can cause doubt.

FAQs

How can I use "dispel a doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "dispel a doubt" when you want to show how uncertainty can be removed. For example, "The expert's explanation helped to "dispel a doubt" that many had regarding the new policy."

What can I say instead of "dispel a doubt"?

You can use alternatives like "eliminate uncertainty", "resolve a question", or "clarify an ambiguity" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "dispel a doubt" and "eliminate a doubt"?

While both phrases imply removing uncertainty, "dispel a doubt" suggests a more active and direct approach, often involving clarification or evidence, whereas "eliminate a doubt" can imply a simpler removal of uncertainty without necessarily addressing its underlying causes.

When is it appropriate to use "dispel a doubt" in formal writing?

It is appropriate to use "dispel a doubt" in formal writing when addressing specific points of uncertainty or skepticism. Ensure that the context supports the active removal of doubt through logical reasoning or factual evidence, as seen in academic, scientific, or professional communications.