as doubtful as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as doubtful as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the level of doubt regarding two different subjects or situations. Example: "Her explanation was as doubtful as the claims made by the conspiracy theorists."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The future success of a united United Kingdom is as doubtful as, for example, the success of a more fully integrated EU.

The Economist

Paddy ready to fill Terry's moleskin trousers With Terry Wogan's future in the Eurovision Song Contest looking as doubtful as that of Dustin the Turkey, Ireland's singing glove puppet, attention turns to potential successors.

Independent

In truth, I'm as doubtful as anyone.

Vice

"It leaves Europe just as doubtful as before about Trump".

Huffington Post

And because that depends on concerted action by Ukraine's deeply divided ruling class, without a "third Maidan" to push them into action, that part of the equation looks just as doubtful as compliance with the Minsk agreement.

Huffington Post

Use of the Pearson reliability coefficient was rated as doubtful, as it neglects systematic observer bias [ 17].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The only question is whether he's got the tools, which is as doubtful now as it was last Friday.

The New York Times

Oh, no, I thought, here we go again, and I felt as locked-in and despairing, as doubtful of life's purpose, as any character in the film.

The New Yorker

Washington listed defensive end MARCO COLEMAN as doubtful and linebacker LaVAR ARRINGTON as questionable, although Coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER did not sound very hopeful about Arrington on Wednesday.

The New York Times - Sports

FAVRE LISTED AS DOUBTFUL Brett Favre was listed as doubtful on the injury report for Sunday but the Vikings interim coach, Leslie Frazier, declined Friday to elaborate on Favre's condition or say whether he had been cleared to play.

The New York Times - Sports

In my dissent in Casey, I wrote that the "undue burden" test made law by the joint opinion created a standard that was "as doubtful in application as it is unprincipled in origin," "hopelessly unworkable in practice," "ultimately standardless".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as doubtful as", ensure the comparison is clear and that both subjects of the comparison are easily understood by the audience. This enhances the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "as doubtful as" without a clear point of reference for the comparison. Ensure the 'as' phrases are logically connected and easily understood, or the sentence may become confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as doubtful as" primarily functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It serves to equate the level of uncertainty or skepticism associated with two different subjects or situations. Ludwig identifies its usage in various contexts, reflecting its applicability in expressing relative doubt.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as doubtful as" is a comparative adjective phrase used to express an equivalent level of uncertainty or skepticism between two subjects. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and primarily used in News & Media, and also in science and encyclopedias. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to clearly convey a relative assessment of doubt. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and logical to avoid confusion. While Ludwig identifies this phrase as usable in written English, it's essential to consider its context to prevent misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally uncertain as

Replaces "doubtful" with "uncertain", emphasizing a lack of certainty with a slightly different nuance.

just as questionable as

Substitutes "doubtful" with "questionable", highlighting that something is open to question or challenge.

as improbable as

Replaces "doubtful" with "improbable", focusing on the low likelihood of something happening or being true.

as dubious as

Employs "dubious" instead of "doubtful", suggesting a strong sense of suspicion or mistrust.

no more certain than

Offers a phrasing that highlights the lack of certainty rather than directly stating doubt.

as unlikely as

Focuses on the low probability of an event or statement being true, similar to "improbable".

as unreliable as

Shifts the focus to the lack of reliability, suggesting that something cannot be trusted or depended upon.

subject to similar doubts

This alternative highlights that something is exposed to the same uncertainties.

of comparable uncertainty

Emphasizes the equivalent level of uncertainty between two subjects.

similarly untrustworthy

Focuses on the lack of trustworthiness, indicating that two things are equally not to be trusted.

FAQs

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

Use "as doubtful as" to compare the uncertainty of two different subjects. For example, "The chances of winning the lottery are "as doubtful as" finding a needle in a haystack".

What can I say instead of "as doubtful as"?

You can use alternatives like "equally uncertain as", "just as questionable as", or "as improbable as" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "as doubtful as" or "doubtful"?

"As doubtful as" is a comparative phrase used to equate the uncertainty of two subjects. "Doubtful" can simply express uncertainty about one subject, therefore there is no better phrase. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "as doubtful as" and "uncertain"?

"As doubtful as" is used for comparing the degree of uncertainty between two things, whereas "uncertain" simply describes something that is not known or definite. The comparative nature is the key difference.