a loose statement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a loose statement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement that is vague, imprecise, or not firmly established. Example: "His explanation was a loose statement that failed to address the key issues at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The studio recording of "Body and Soul," from October 1939, is an event, an actorly tour de force in three minutes, a continuous solo after a loose statement of theme; its equivalent in another form of music might be Jimi Hendrix's "Star-Spangled Banner".

The New York Times - Arts

To say that this is all immoral, when we are supposed to be covered by compensation, is a loose statement.

BBC

And while Trump may have thrown around the acronym "LGBTQ" as a loose statement of unsubstantiated queer empathy, he certainly is not pro-LGBT.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the loose statement of determinism we are working from, metaphors such as "govern" and "under the sway of" are used to indicate the strong force being attributed to the laws of nature.

SEP

For a point as subtle, specific and interesting as this, loose statements such as "memory is independent of synaptic change" are confusing as well as unproductively provocative.

eLife

In the first and loose statements of the incompleteness theorems given above, the vague requirement that "a certain amount of elementary arithmetic can be carried out" occurred.

SEP

Not surprisingly, then, Trump's loose statements about building and using nuclear weapons have horrified observers.

Huffington Post

I think he made loose statements...I reminded him that I was the first person to shake hands after the Sydney defeat".

Wikipedia

Many paragraphs have loose statements and irrelevant information.

Biology Direct

That said, perhaps not unexpectedly, given the scope of the article, I find certain gaps, omissions and logical inconsistencies in the presentation, as well as certain loose statements that are not directly relevant for the main theme of the article.

Biology Direct

In the chapter on host defenses, for example, attempts to simplify occasionally lead to unfortunately loose statements such as "Within man, there are certain well known racial differences in disease susceptibility…," among which it identifies "Dark skinned individuals have an increased susceptibility to coccidioidomycosis".

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a loose statement", ensure the context clearly indicates that the statement lacks precision or is not fully substantiated. This helps avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "a loose statement" when a stronger, more definitive claim is appropriate. Using it in place of factual evidence can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a loose statement" functions as a noun phrase, where "loose" modifies "statement". According to Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct. It typically serves to characterize a claim or declaration as lacking precision or sufficient backing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a loose statement" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an assertion that lacks precision or strong supporting evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not very common, it appears mostly in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific discussions, indicating a neutral register. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context and ensure that the lack of precision is intentional and clear to your audience. Alternatives such as "an unsubstantiated claim" or "a vague assertion" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unsubstantiated claim

Replaces "statement" with "claim" and emphasizes the lack of supporting evidence.

an unsupported assertion

Focuses on the absence of evidence to back up the statement.

a vague assertion

Substitutes "statement" with "assertion" and "loose" with "vague", highlighting the lack of clarity.

an imprecise remark

Replaces "statement" with "remark" and "loose" with "imprecise", focusing on the lack of exactness.

an unfounded declaration

Emphasizes the lack of a solid basis for the statement.

a flimsy argument

Suggests that the statement is weak and easily refuted.

a weak proposition

Implies the statement lacks sufficient support or justification.

a general comment

Replaces "loose statement" with a more generic term, indicating a lack of specific focus.

a careless remark

Emphasizes the lack of careful consideration behind the statement.

a rough estimation

Suggests a statement based on an approximate calculation or guess.

FAQs

What does "a loose statement" mean?

The phrase "a loose statement" refers to a statement that is vague, imprecise, or lacks strong supporting evidence. It suggests that the statement may not be entirely accurate or well-founded.

How can I use "a loose statement" in a sentence?

You can use "a loose statement" to describe a claim or assertion that is not firmly established or is based on incomplete information. For example, "His explanation was "a loose statement" that failed to address the key issues."

What are some alternatives to "a loose statement"?

Alternatives to "a loose statement" include phrases like "an unsubstantiated claim", "a vague assertion", or "an imprecise remark", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a loose statement"?

It's appropriate to use "a loose statement" when you want to express that a particular assertion is not rigorous, may lack evidence, or is somewhat imprecise. However, consider whether a more specific and accurate description might be more suitable.