a dubious assertion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dubious assertion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a statement or claim that is questionable or not credible. Example: "The scientist made a dubious assertion about the effectiveness of the new drug without sufficient evidence to support it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Instead, the Fed has maintained that disclosure of the practice is adequate, a dubious assertion given the myriad ways to bury and distort disclosures.

The New York Times

On one hand hiring Mr. Coe to open his shows is a natural fit for the side of Kid Rock that proudly says he was brought up in a trailer (though, like Mr. Coe's unsubstantiated boast that he murdered a fellow inmate who tried to seduce him in prison, it's a dubious assertion).

The New York Times - Arts

That's a dubious assertion that devalues the effort needed to become an effective teacher.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

That is a highly dubious assertion.

The New York Times

Holyfield ventured that this American dream team might be the best ever, at which point it seemed a very dubious assertion.

The New York Times - Sports

Or was it perhaps – by virtue of from-whole-cloth invention of quotes and dubious assertion of a deep relationship with one of the jailed killers – just fabulism?

The Guardian - Opinion

To demonstrate that dubious assertion, he picked up a sheet covering a body and said, "See, there he is; now I've found him," and flippantly put the sheet back down.

The New York Times

This traditional formulation of a university's purpose serves us far better than Mr. Brooks's dubious assertion that "the future of the universities is in practical knowledge".

The New York Times

This dubious assertion was made in Westminster in response to a question from Labour's Andrew Gwynne last month over the government's reduced protection of private sector tenants.

The Guardian

Administration officials said it was important to push back against China's dubious assertion of jurisdiction over international airspace.

The New York Times

In this essay, Mr. Baker questions how Britain and the United States waged the war against Hitler, making the dubious assertion that "the pacifists of World War II were right".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a dubious assertion", ensure the context clearly indicates why the assertion is questionable. Provide supporting evidence or reasoning to strengthen your critique.

Common error

Avoid using stronger terms like "blatantly false" or "completely unfounded" unless you have irrefutable evidence. "A dubious assertion" implies uncertainty, not necessarily outright falsehood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dubious assertion" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "dubious" modifies the noun "assertion". It describes the nature of the assertion, indicating that it is questionable or doubtful. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a dubious assertion" is a noun phrase used to express doubt or skepticism about a statement. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and commonly used in written English, particularly in neutral contexts such as news and media. The phrase implies that the assertion is questionable, potentially due to a lack of supporting evidence or flawed reasoning. Alternatives include phrases like "a questionable claim" or "a doubtful statement". When using the phrase, it's best to provide context explaining why the assertion is considered dubious, and to avoid overstating the dubiousness without sufficient evidence. As usage examples show, this construction is suitable for formal and informal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a questionable claim

Replaces "assertion" with "claim", suggesting uncertainty.

a doubtful statement

Substitutes "dubious" with "doubtful" and "assertion" with "statement", implying uncertainty or disbelief.

a suspect contention

Replaces "dubious" with "suspect" and "assertion" with "contention", suggesting the assertion is untrustworthy.

a challengeable argument

Changes the focus to the argument itself being open to challenge.

an unreliable proposition

Indicates that the proposition is not reliable or trustworthy.

a flimsy argument

Highlights the weakness of the argument, suggesting it's not well-supported.

a specious argument

Implies that the argument appears correct but is actually fallacious.

a tenuous argument

Suggests the argument is fragile and easily refuted.

an unconvincing argument

Emphasizes the lack of persuasiveness in the argument.

a far-fetched claim

Conveys that the claim is unlikely or improbable.

FAQs

How can I use "a dubious assertion" in a sentence?

You can use "a dubious assertion" to express that a statement or claim is questionable or lacks credibility. For example: "The scientist made "a dubious assertion" about the new drug's effectiveness without sufficient evidence."

What are some alternatives to "a dubious assertion"?

Alternatives include "a questionable claim", "a doubtful statement", or "a suspect contention". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a dubious assertion"?

It's appropriate when you want to express skepticism or doubt about a particular statement, but without necessarily declaring it false. It suggests that the assertion warrants further scrutiny or lacks sufficient supporting evidence.

What's the difference between "a dubious assertion" and "a false statement"?

"A dubious assertion" suggests uncertainty or a lack of credibility, while "a false statement" implies that the assertion is definitively incorrect. "A dubious assertion" might be based on incomplete information or flawed reasoning, while a false statement is simply untrue.