as believable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as believable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the credibility or plausibility of two or more statements, claims, or narratives. Example: "The story he told was as believable as the one she shared, leaving us unsure of the truth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Everything's as believable as possible," he says.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That sounds as believable as the Yankees' adopting the rally monkey, but it's true.

The New York Times - Sports

"They're about as believable as a crocodile going onto the Senate floor and voting".

The New York Times

Each of these interpretations is roughly as believable as any other one.

The New Yorker

Still, Reynolds's directing is imaginative, and the actors are as believable as gods as they are as nasty men.

The New Yorker

The Clashing Rocks, which come together to squash passing ships, are as believable as Clashing Rocks get.

The New York Times - Arts

(He says Broaddrick was "as believable as anyone I'd ever seen on television," which is high praise in his idiom).

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Murdoch's claims of shock and surprise are about as believable as his claim that Fox News is "fair and balanced".

The New York Times

Bobby is credibly troubled, neither a holy fool nor an over-the-top goofball, and his moments of wisdom are as believable as his bouts of instability.

The New York Times

Herself a Wellesley graduate, Percer has problems fitting her obvious affection for the college into a plot as believable as her narrator's powers of recall.

The New York Times - Books

In the concluding apotheosis, wandering with her hair down among angels in white, she was as believable as anyone could be.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as believable", ensure that both elements being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity and enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "as believable" when there is no clear comparison being made. Always provide a reference point to what something is being compared to in terms of believability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as believable" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, typically used to indicate that something possesses a similar degree of credibility or plausibility to something else. Ludwig's examples show its widespread usage in assessing the validity of claims, performances, and scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as believable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative adjective phrase. According to Ludwig, it serves to express that something possesses a similar degree of credibility or plausibility to something else. Its usage spans across various contexts, most commonly in news and media, wiki entries, and scientific publications. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to ensure a clear comparison when using the phrase to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "equally credible" or "just as plausible" may be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally credible

Focuses directly on the credibility aspect, omitting the comparative structure.

just as plausible

Emphasizes the plausibility rather than the strict believability.

as credible

Shorter version of the original phrase, losing some of the comparative nuance.

similarly convincing

Highlights the act of convincing, shifting the focus from inherent believability.

of comparable credibility

More formal phrasing, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

on par in believability

Uses the idiom 'on par' to indicate equal standing in terms of believability.

no more believable

Expresses that something is not believable at all, creating a negative context.

hardly believable

Indicates something is challenging to believe, introducing doubt.

borderline impossible to believe

Emphasizes the extreme difficulty to believe something due to how outlandish or absurd it may be.

questionable credibility

Highlights that the credibility of something is in question, potentially unbelievable and therefore needs consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "as believable" in a sentence?

Use "as believable" to compare the credibility of two or more things. For example, "His excuse was "as believable" as a politician's promise".

What's a more formal alternative to "as believable"?

Alternatives like "equally credible" or "of comparable credibility" are suitable for more formal settings. For example, "The two accounts were of comparable credibility".

What can I say instead of "as believable" when something is completely unbelievable?

You could say it's "hardly believable" or "not "as believable" as..." followed by an absurd comparison.

Is "as believable" the same as "believable"?

No, "believable" simply means something is credible. "As believable" is comparative, indicating that something is equally believable as something else.