back up this optimism

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back up this optimism" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to support or provide evidence for a positive outlook or belief. Example: "The recent economic indicators help to back up this optimism about the market's recovery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The figures would seem to back up this optimism.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Microsoft's third-quarter figures backed up this optimism around the PC market.

The New York Times - Tech

The record-beating Eurostar run on July 30 was part of the publicity drive to back up this new optimism.

The New York Times - Travel

Mr. Clements cited demographics to back up his optimism.

The New York Times

But within both speeches, it was hard to find the substance to back up that optimism.

The New York Times

We follow Charity (in an anachronistic Farrah Fawcett-ish wig) as she takes a turn around the stage, which is surrounded on three sides by the audience — the all-female band is on a balcony above the stage — looking for evidence to back up her optimism.

The New Yorker

Jason Chang, who runs his own billion-dollar semiconductor company in Taiwan, feels otherwise and plans to back up his optimism with at least $500 million of new investments in 2003.

Forbes

While Young's words may seem bold, particularly for someone who will be a back up, his optimism may be warranted.

Huffington Post

Other conservators backed up this assessment.

The New York Times - Arts

The new work backs up this hypothesis.

Science Magazine

Auroral imaging backs up this claim.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "back up this optimism", ensure that you provide specific and relevant evidence or data immediately following the phrase to avoid vagueness. For example: "The positive sales figures back up this optimism, showing a 15% increase this quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "back up this optimism" when the evidence is weak or nonexistent. It's better to present a more cautious outlook than to create false hope without solid backing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back up this optimism" functions as a verb phrase, where "back up" acts as a phrasal verb meaning to support or provide evidence for something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, and the examples provided corroborate this assessment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

25%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back up this optimism" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions to support a positive outlook by providing evidence. Ludwig confirms the correctness of the expression with supporting examples from various sources. While primarily found in news and media contexts, it can be used in different settings with a neutral register. If you want to express the concept of backing up optimism using different phrasing you can use phrases like "support this optimism", "validate this optimism" or "justify this optimism".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

support this optimism

Replaces "back up" with the more direct verb "support", which is a simpler synonym.

validate this optimism

Emphasizes the confirmation of the optimism's correctness or legitimacy.

substantiate this optimism

Focuses on providing concrete evidence to prove the optimism is well-founded.

corroborate this optimism

Suggests reinforcing the optimism with additional supporting facts or information.

justify this optimism

Implies providing reasons or explanations to show the optimism is reasonable.

confirm this optimism

Highlights the act of verifying that the optimism is accurate or true.

lend credence to this optimism

Suggests that something is adding believability or plausibility to the optimism.

give weight to this optimism

Indicates that something is making the optimism more significant or impactful.

provide evidence for this optimism

Explicitly states the action of offering proof to support the positive outlook.

strengthen this optimism

Focuses on making the existing optimism more robust or resilient.

FAQs

How can I use "back up this optimism" in a sentence?

You can use "back up this optimism" to introduce supporting evidence for a positive outlook, as in, "The new research findings "back up this optimism" regarding the treatment's effectiveness."

What can I say instead of "back up this optimism"?

You can use alternatives like "support this optimism", "validate this optimism", or "substantiate this optimism" depending on the context.

Is it better to "back up this optimism" or "support this optimism"?

Both ""back up this optimism"" and "support this optimism" are grammatically correct and similar in meaning. "Support" is more direct, while "back up" implies providing additional reinforcement.

What's the difference between "back up this optimism" and "justify this optimism"?

"Back up this optimism" means to provide evidence to support an existing positive feeling. "Justify this optimism", on the other hand, means to show or prove that the optimism is reasonable or warranted.