benefit of doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

'benefit of doubt' is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a situation in which you give someone the benefit of the doubt, and don't automatically assume the worst about them. For example, "We decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe her when she said she didn't steal the money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

I should've been given the benefit of doubt, but instead I've been banned".

The Guardian - Sport

The referee Kenny Clark gave Celtic the benefit of doubt all afternoon.

The Guardian - Sport

The benefit of doubt has to be given to the animal.

The Guardian

So, benefit of doubt, but not for very long is my view".

The Guardian

Shame on me/us for giving them any benefit of doubt".

The New Yorker

As Koenig puts it: "Let's give [Adnan] the benefit of doubt.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Because this treatment of data puts excessive emphasis on the reference sequence, giving the presence of the reference nucleotide at each investigated position the "benefit of doubt", we called this treatment of data benefit-of-doubt (BOD) scoring.

Genomics

Al Smith has pleased with newspapers to give Mayor benefit of doubts.

The New Yorker

The Benefit of Doubts approach, instead, is rooted in the copious literature concerning CIs.

European Transport Research Review

It's not a question of benefit of the doubt.

The New York Times

It deserves the benefit of the doubt.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "benefit of doubt", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are choosing to believe or trust someone despite lacking sufficient evidence.

Common error

Avoid offering the "benefit of doubt" when clear evidence contradicts the claim or action in question. It should be reserved for situations where genuine uncertainty exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "benefit of doubt" functions as a noun phrase, often used as an object of verbs like 'give', 'offer', or 'deserve'. It describes the act of withholding judgment and accepting a claim or action without conclusive evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "benefit of doubt" is a frequently used and grammatically sound noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It conveys the act of choosing to believe or trust someone despite a lack of definitive proof. Predominantly found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki", its neutral register makes it suitable for various situations. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context, reserving it for instances where genuine uncertainty exists. Related phrases like ""presumption of innocence"" and "assume good faith" provide alternative ways to express this concept, each with nuances that might be more fitting depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give someone the benefit of the doubt

This version is a more verbose but grammatically complete version of the original phrase.

presumption of innocence

This alternative is a legal term emphasizing that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.

assume good faith

This alternative focuses on the act of believing in someone's honesty or integrity.

extend trust

This option highlights the act of offering trust to someone.

give credence to

This alternative means to believe or accept something as true.

give a second chance

This alternative focuses on providing another opportunity despite past mistakes.

accept at face value

This phrase means to accept something as it appears without questioning its truth.

err on the side of caution

This phrase is used when making a decision where the consequences of being wrong are significant, opting for the safer choice.

give a fair hearing

This alternative relates to listening to all sides of a story before making a judgment.

lean towards acceptance

This alternative is more generic, implying a predisposition to accept something or someone.

FAQs

How can I use "benefit of doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "benefit of doubt" to indicate that you are choosing to believe someone or something despite a lack of conclusive evidence. For example: "I'm willing to give him the "benefit of doubt" until we have more information".

What's the difference between "presumption of innocence" and "benefit of doubt"?

"Presumption of innocence" is a legal principle that someone is innocent until proven guilty, while "benefit of doubt" is a more general term for choosing to believe someone in the absence of proof. The "presumption of innocence" applies specifically within the legal system.

What can I say instead of "benefit of doubt"?

You can use alternatives like "assume good faith", "give someone a second chance", or "extend trust" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to offer someone the "benefit of doubt"?

It's appropriate to offer the "benefit of doubt" when there's uncertainty or ambiguity surrounding a situation or a person's actions. However, avoid giving the "benefit of doubt" when there's clear evidence to the contrary.