an unknown basis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unknown basis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a foundation or reason that is not identified or recognized. Example: "The study was conducted on an unknown basis, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The significant link between H. pylori-negative patient tissue and chromosome 8 loss has an unknown basis that might be worth pursuing.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"You don't get 40,000 people together on an underground, unknown basis," said Dr. Philip Fagan Jr., emergency department director at Good Samaritan Hospital near downtown L.A. Raves shouldn't happen, he said, "because of the threat to the personal health of individuals who are there".

Los Angeles Times

They have groups that update certain manga on either a weekly, or unknown basis.

WikiHow

The known genetic mechanisms underlying lower azole sensitivity include mutations affecting the CYP51 gene that encodes the target protein, but in many cases azole resistance is a more complex trait with an unknown genetic basis.

Fungal Genetics and Biology

Heritable bleeding and platelet disorders (BPD) are heterogeneous and frequently have an unknown genetic basis.

Genome Medicine

"Unless there is some presently unknown basis for the library's action, we think it is such that future donors of judicial papers will be inclined to look elsewhere for a repository".

The New Yorker

Completeness was checked using a variety of methods wherever possible including comparison with historic data, proportion of cases microscopically diagnosed, proportion of unknown basis of diagnosis, mortality : incidence (M : I) ratio and death certificate method.

British Journal of Cancer

Specific measures of MV%, DCO%, M/I, and UB% (the proportion of diagnosis of unknown basis) of 2010 NPC data were as follows: for all registries, 74.55%, 1.72%, 0.48, and 1.43%, respectively; for urban registries, 77.29%, 1.85%, 0.49, and 1.62%, respectively; and for rural registries, 69.70%, 1.49%, 0.46, and 1.09%, respectively.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

The criteria for data quality were as follows: the percentage of cases morphologically verified (MV%) was higher than 66%, the percentage of death certificate-only cases (DCO%) was lower than 15%, the mortality to incidence ratio (M/I) was between 0.6 and 0.8, and the percentage of the diagnosis of unknown basis (UB%) was lower than 5%.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

On an annual basis, an unknown number of visitors from around the U.S. bring their pets to YNP and the GYE.

Plosone

Our results suggest a previously unknown mechanistic basis linking transcriptional dysregulation to cell death in neurodegeneration through TBP mediated alteration of Vdac1 expression.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an unknown basis", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking a known foundation. Be specific about the area of uncertainty to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "an unknown basis" when a more specific description of the lack of knowledge can be provided. Replace it with phrases that offer more clarity regarding what exactly is unknown.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unknown basis" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the quality or state of the noun it modifies, indicating that the foundation, reason, or justification is not known or identified. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an unknown basis" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a lack of understanding or knowledge regarding the foundation or rationale behind something. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While it appears across various contexts, it is most frequently observed in scientific and news-related publications. To enhance clarity and avoid vagueness, it's advisable to provide more specific details about what aspect is unknown. When needing alternatives, consider options like "unidentified rationale" or "unspecified foundation". By understanding its function, purpose, and typical usage, you can effectively incorporate "an unknown basis" into your writing when conveying uncertainty about underlying reasons or justifications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unidentified rationale

Replaces "basis" with "rationale", emphasizing the reasoning behind something is not identified.

unspecified foundation

Substitutes "basis" with "foundation", highlighting the lack of a specified base or groundwork.

undetermined justification

Replaces "basis" with "justification", focusing on the lack of a determined reason or explanation.

unestablished premise

Substitutes "basis" with "premise", emphasizing the lack of an established starting point or assumption.

unclear grounds

Replaces "basis" with "grounds", denoting that the reasons or justifications are not clear or well-defined.

obscure reason

Replaces "basis" with "reason", pointing to a reason that is vague and difficult to understand.

unsubstantiated claim

Replaces "basis" with "claim", indicating that the assertion lacks supporting evidence or validation.

unproven assumption

Replaces "basis" with "assumption", implying the underlying belief is not yet proven or confirmed.

hypothetical foundation

Replaces "unknown" with "hypothetical", suggesting the foundation is based on a speculative idea.

tenuous basis

Replaces "unknown" with "tenuous", suggesting that the foundation is weak, shaky or fragile.

FAQs

How can I use "an unknown basis" in a sentence?

You can use "an unknown basis" to describe a situation where the underlying reason or foundation is not yet discovered or understood. For example, "The decision was made on "an unknown basis", leaving many questioning the rationale behind it."

What are some alternatives to "an unknown basis"?

Alternatives include phrases like "unidentified rationale", "unspecified foundation", or "undetermined justification" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "unknown basis" or "unclear basis"?

Both "unknown basis" and "unclear basis" are acceptable, but they have slightly different meanings. "Unknown basis" implies that the basis is not yet discovered, while "unclear basis" suggests that the basis is vague or poorly defined, even if it exists.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "an unknown basis"?

Use "an unknown basis" when you want to emphasize that the reasons or foundations for something are not known or have not been revealed. This is often useful in scientific research, investigative reporting, or when discussing decision-making processes.