borderline based

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "borderline based" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing something that is nearly or somewhat based on a particular idea or principle, but clarity may be lacking. Example: "Her argument was borderline based on outdated research, making it difficult to accept."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The objective of our study was to find out if there is a borderline based on the distinguishing features between the beneficials and pathogens within the genus Stenotrophomonas.

BMC Genomics

Students were rated on both a criterion - referenced checklist for each task, with descriptors for each criterion of "attempted and correct", "not attempted" or "attempted but not correct" and on a global score of "satisfactory", "not satisfactory" or "borderline", based on the judgment of the assessor.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Where previous American parenting guides were stern and repressive, Spock was humane, benign and borderline permissive, based on – this was really radical – his devout reading of Freud.

The Guardian - Books

My first standalone mystery, Borderline, was based on a personal experience a friend told me one evening at dinner, just before she died.

Huffington Post

As far as we know, only one study [ 13] has previously made a subdivision between SIDS and borderline SIDS based on histological findings.

European Journal of Pediatrics

Established biomarkers help the pathologist to recognize these hereditary cancers, which can help to trigger analyzing family history and to decide on mutation testing in patients at borderline risk, based on family history only.

BMC Cancer

In this study, the downregulation of miR-34c in high grade serous carcinomas shown by microarray analysis was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis but inter-method variability appears to have affected the reproducibility of demonstration of a statistically significant miR-34c prognostic association, indicating borderline prognostic significance, based on this cohort.

Plosone

This symbol set was chosen to emphasize elements that are prominent in a psychotherapy of borderline personality disorder based on dialectical behavior therapy [ 70, 71].

BMC Psychiatry

Of these, only caffeine (P for trend = 0.02) and total energy intake (P for trend 0.06) exhibited significant or borderline significant associations based on tests for trend across quartiles of intake.

Breast Cancer Research

Phyllodes tumors were graded as benign, borderline or malignant based on the degree of stromal cellularity, the degree of stromal overgrowth, the degree of cellular atypia, invasiveness of the tumor margin and the mitotic activity index as described previously in detail by Moffat and colleagues [ 30].

Breast Cancer Research

The results were explained to the participant by the physician (using the interpreter as appropriate) who gave general lifestyle advice for those with blood pressure, anthropometrical or biochemical measures that indicated a very low or borderline CVD risk based on Joint British Society (JBS 2) [ 7].

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "borderline based", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is nearly or somewhat based on. Clarity is key, as the phrase can be vague.

Common error

Avoid using "borderline based" when a stronger or more direct connection exists. If something is significantly based on something else, choose a more affirmative phrase like "primarily based" or "strongly based".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "borderline based" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something is nearly or somewhat based on something else. Ludwig indicates this phrase isn't very common and might benefit from clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "borderline based" is used to describe something that is only somewhat or nearly based on something else. Ludwig identifies it as a less common phrase, suggesting potential clarity issues. Its use is more prevalent in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the connection is indeed partial and consider alternatives like "marginally based" or "loosely founded" for improved precision. While grammatically acceptable, prioritize clarity and directness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally based

Emphasizes a slight or minimal foundation, suggesting a weaker connection.

tenuously based

Highlights the fragility or weakness of the foundation.

loosely founded

Implies a relaxed or flexible connection to the base.

partially grounded

Focuses on the incomplete nature of the grounding or foundation.

quasi-based

Uses "quasi-" to indicate a resemblance without full identity.

somewhat predicated

Highlights the dependency of something on a prior condition, but to a limited extent.

almost dependent

Expresses near dependence, but falls short of complete reliance.

nearly contingent

Suggests something is close to being conditional but not fully so.

shadow of reliance

Metaphorically suggests a faint or weak connection.

hint of grounding

Suggests a subtle or indirect foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "borderline based" in a sentence?

You can use "borderline based" to describe something that is only somewhat or nearly based on a particular idea, principle, or source. For example: "Her argument was borderline based on outdated research, making it difficult to accept."

What's a more precise alternative to "borderline based"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "marginally based", "loosely founded", or "partially grounded" might offer greater clarity.

Is "borderline based" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "borderline based" isn't a commonly used phrase. Ludwig indicates it may lack clarity compared to more direct alternatives.

When should I avoid using "borderline based"?

Avoid "borderline based" if the connection between the subject and its base is strong or obvious. Use a more affirmative phrase to accurately reflect the degree of the connection.