albeit tenuous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "albeit tenuous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a concession or acknowledgment of a weak or fragile point in an argument or statement. Example: "The evidence presented was, albeit tenuous, enough to warrant further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Still, a connection does exist, albeit tenuous.

The Guardian

Media around the launch also resulted in a link, albeit tenuous, to the election of President Trump.

Nature

That's what social media do: they borrow the personal connections of actual friends to link us to friends of friends and get us long past six degrees and out into a surprisingly wide and diverse, albeit tenuous, thread of virtual relationships (which sometimes even result in face-to-face meetings — and I don't mean weirdo predators).

The New Yorker

It is possible, albeit tenuous, and a number of contextual factors would need to be present.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Devoted to movies from the earliest age and living through real and constant dangers in his youth Truffaut experienced the cinema as a deliverance, albeit a tenuous one.

The New Yorker

Mr. Bush has suggested that he sees a link, albeit a tenuous one, between Iraq and the search for a Middle East peace.

The New York Times

Initially, he clashes with Bill, but soon they are forced into forming an alliance – albeit a tenuous one!

BBC

As Toliver and Constable point out in their book on Hartmann, "The Blond Knight of Germany": "Fighter aces were able to keep alive, for a few brief decades, albeit in tenuous form, the now archaic concept of a fair fight.

Los Angeles Times

Here, the female prison is not marred by abuse; it is a place of sorority, albeit of a tenuous kind.

The New Yorker

Even though his models suggest that these past warmings should have boosted temperatures solely in June, July, and August, the evidence, albeit a little tenuous for the three thousand year period of Climatic Optimum, supports warmer winters.

Stanford University

I was asked to get involved because there was a potential Welsh link, albeit a very tenuous one.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "albeit tenuous" to acknowledge a connection or possibility that exists but is weak or uncertain. This adds nuance and precision to your writing, preventing overstatement.

Common error

Avoid using "albeit tenuous" when there is no discernible connection at all. The phrase implies that some relationship exists, even if it's fragile. If there's no link, use a phrase indicating complete absence instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "albeit tenuous" functions as an adverbial modifier, adding a qualification to a statement. It introduces a note of uncertainty or weakness, acknowledging a connection or possibility while simultaneously downplaying its significance. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "albeit tenuous" is a useful tool for adding nuance and precision to your writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and serves to acknowledge a connection or possibility while simultaneously highlighting its weakness or uncertainty. Predominantly found in news, media, and academic contexts, this phrase helps avoid overstatement by indicating that although something might be true to some extent, it lacks substantial strength or support. By using "albeit tenuous" judiciously, writers can convey a more balanced and accurate representation of information. Remember to avoid using this phrase when there is no discernible connection at all; it is most effective when some relationship exists, even if fragile.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though weak

Replaces "albeit" with "though", which is a simpler conjunction, and uses the adjective "weak" instead of "tenuous".

though slight

Uses "slight" as a synonym for "tenuous", suggesting a minimal or insubstantial degree of connection.

even if fragile

Uses "even if" instead of "albeit" to introduce the condition and replaces "tenuous" with "fragile", highlighting the delicate nature of the connection.

even though uncertain

Replaces "albeit" with "even though" and "tenuous" with "uncertain", emphasizing the lack of sureness.

however fragile

Uses "however" to introduce a contrast and "fragile" to describe the delicate nature of the connection.

while insubstantial

Uses "while" to introduce the contrasting idea and replaces "tenuous" with "insubstantial", indicating a lack of material or strength.

if only barely

Emphasizes the minimal extent of the connection using "if only barely".

though remotely connected

Uses "remotely connected" to convey the distant or indirect nature of the connection.

notwithstanding its weakness

Introduces a formal tone and directly addresses the "weakness" of the connection.

even if remotely possible

Suggests the possibility is distant or unlikely.

FAQs

How can I use "albeit tenuous" in a sentence?

Use "albeit tenuous" to concede a point while highlighting its weakness or uncertainty. For example, "The evidence is, "albeit tenuous", suggestive of a possible link.".

What does "albeit tenuous" mean?

"Albeit" means "although" or "even though", and "tenuous" means weak or uncertain. Together, "albeit tenuous" indicates a connection or possibility that exists but is fragile or not strongly supported.

Which is correct, "albeit tenuous" or "although tenuous"?

Both "albeit tenuous" and "although tenuous" are grammatically correct. "Albeit" is slightly more formal and less common than "although".

What are some alternatives to "albeit tenuous"?

You can use alternatives like "though weak", "even if fragile", or "though slight", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.