a sliver of doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sliver of doubt" is correct and can be used in written English to convey uncertainty or hesitation about something.
Example: Despite his confident demeanor, there was still a sliver of doubt in his mind about whether he had made the right decision.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Even so, Griffin is maintaining a sliver of doubt.

The New York Times - Sports

"They remove all but a sliver of doubt that the economy is contracting".

The New York Times

He revealed beyond a sliver of doubt that indeed he had the quality of a fine wine.

Independent

If even a sliver of doubt was loitering in your mind on the central question of modern culture – is The Only Way is Essex (Towie among friends) the best programme of the 21st century?

Independent

"Sure, I have a sliver of doubt over whether she can duplicate a year that I'm not sure any other horse has ever had," her trainer, Steve Asmussen, said.

The New York Times - Sports

But Louisville has lost its last two games, and Lamar Jackson had three passes intercepted by Kentucky over the weekend, adding a sliver of doubt into the race.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

I will not deal with a lady or a man that has any sliver of doubt on her or his integrity".

The New York Times

Even the most skeptical, even friends and teammates who lived through years of rumors and indecision, even those who hold a sliver of reasonable doubt, still believe that Favre's N.F.L. career is finished after 18 seasons.

The New York Times - Sports

I will not tolerate to deal with a company that has a lady or a man that has any sliver of doubts on her or his integrity.

The Guardian

To others, it seemed as if Ewing was trying to slip a psychological sliver of doubt in Mourning's mind.

The New York Times - Sports

By Hendrik Hertzberg The great bafflement of next week's midterm congressional elections is that there is even a sliver of a hint of a shadow of a doubt about the outcome.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sliver of doubt" to introduce a minor reservation or uncertainty after expressing a generally positive or confident statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a sliver of doubt" when expressing significant uncertainty. The phrase implies a small, almost negligible amount of doubt, so it's unsuitable for situations involving substantial skepticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sliver of doubt" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a minimal degree of uncertainty or hesitation, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

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 sliver of doubt" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a small amount of uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various writing contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the degree of doubt you are conveying aligns with the "sliver", meaning it should be minimal. Consider alternatives like "a hint of doubt" or "a trace of doubt" for slight variations in meaning. Be aware that this phrase is not appropriate when describing major or significant uncertainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hint of doubt

Substitutes "sliver" with "hint", indicating a slight or subtle feeling of uncertainty.

a shade of doubt

Replaces "sliver" with "shade", suggesting a subtle degree of uncertainty.

a trace of doubt

Uses "trace" instead of "sliver", emphasizing a minimal amount of uncertainty.

a glimmer of doubt

Employs "glimmer" to suggest a faint or flickering sense of uncertainty.

a suspicion of doubt

Replaces "sliver" with "suspicion", implying a feeling of mistrust or uncertainty.

a touch of uncertainty

Shifts from "doubt" to "uncertainty", offering a more general term for a lack of conviction.

a degree of skepticism

Replaces "doubt" with "skepticism", indicating a questioning attitude.

a small amount of doubt

More directly quantifies the doubt, using "small amount" instead of a figurative "sliver".

a lingering question

Focuses on the lingering nature of the doubt, presenting it as an unresolved question.

a nagging concern

Highlights the troubling aspect of the doubt, framing it as a persistent concern.

FAQs

How can I use "a sliver of doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "a sliver of doubt" to express a small amount of uncertainty. For example, "Despite the evidence, "a sliver of doubt" remained in his mind."

What are some alternatives to "a sliver of doubt"?

Some alternatives include "a hint of doubt", "a trace of doubt", or "a small amount of doubt".

Is it appropriate to use "a sliver of doubt" in formal writing?

Yes, the phrase is suitable for formal writing, particularly in news and media, to subtly introduce a minor reservation.

What's the difference between "a sliver of doubt" and "a shadow of a doubt"?

"A sliver of doubt" implies a very small amount of uncertainty, whereas "a shadow of a doubt" suggests that there is virtually no uncertainty at all.