can suspect that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can suspect that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a belief or feeling of doubt about something or someone. Example: "I can suspect that he may not be telling the truth based on his body language."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Look at the Conservative press or read the output of Tory thinktanks and you can suspect that liberal conservatism barely exists today.

The Guardian - Opinion

On theoretical grounds, one can suspect that an inflammatory process is present.

EJNMMI Research

In this sense, therefore, we can suspect that there is a close relationship between smart cities and the policies aimed at the idea of an entrepreneurial city (Hollands [2008]).

City, Territory and Architecture

Consequently, we can suspect that further epidemiological work might redefine the acceptable threshold for cancer risks related to arsenic exposure and that the drinking water quality criteria for As are prone to be eventually revisited to integrate current and future knowledge on the problems caused by arsenic.

Chemistry Central Journal

If the score of the escape difficulty is low, we can suspect that the node lies in a sparse and highly connected neighborhood (formally, in a part of the graph with good expansion), such as a tree, or a forest, rather than a collection of weakly connected clusters.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Given that sound localization and auditory left/right lateralization involve probably different auditory structures (see [33], [34], [35]) we can suspect that the improvement obtained in our study by the AV and FB groups results from different mechanisms.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

I can only suspect that like Vaughan he's got something embarrassing on various members of the media".

The Guardian - Sport

We can thus suspect that subsp. cuspidata is not well adapted to South Australia and subsp. europaea is not well adapted to NSW, consistent with our finding that these two subspecies are dominant in the location predicted to be optimal.

Evolutionary Applications

The kind, we suspect, that can emanate only from a ballet divo engaged to a mega-star.

The New York Times

And as Bill Gates always warned, it’s the little company you don’t suspect that can change your world.

Forbes

A randomized clinical trial has confirmed what many people suspect — that ginger can decrease nausea caused by chemotherapy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can suspect that", ensure the context provides a clear basis for the suspicion to avoid making unfounded claims. Qualifying the suspicion with phrases like "based on…" or "given…" can strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid presenting a suspicion formed using "can suspect that" as an established fact. It's crucial to maintain a degree of uncertainty and indicate that it is a possibility rather than a certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can suspect that" functions as an epistemic expression, indicating a possibility or conjecture. It presents a claim or belief without asserting it as a definite fact. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase introduces a degree of uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can suspect that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a suspicion or conjecture, as verified by Ludwig. While relatively rare in occurrence, it appears in varied contexts, primarily in scientific and news-related articles. The phrase is versatile, fitting comfortably in both formal and informal settings. It is crucial to qualify suspicions appropriately and not present them as definitive facts. Alternatives such as "might suspect that" or "could suspect that" offer subtle shifts in the strength of the expressed belief. Overall, this phrase is a useful tool for expressing uncertainty or doubt in a clear and grammatically sound manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might suspect that

Expresses a slightly weaker level of certainty or possibility.

could suspect that

Similar to "might suspect that", indicating a possibility rather than a strong belief.

may suspect that

Indicates a possibility and is often used in more formal contexts.

have reason to believe that

Suggests there are specific grounds or evidence supporting the suspicion.

believe that

Expresses a stronger conviction or opinion, moving away from mere suspicion.

infer that

Implies drawing a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.

surmise that

Suggests forming a conjecture about something without firm evidence.

conjecture that

Similar to "surmise", indicating a guess or speculation.

gather that

Implies forming an understanding or conclusion from available information.

take it that

Indicates an assumption based on what one has observed or heard.

FAQs

What does "can suspect that" mean?

The phrase "can suspect that" expresses a feeling or belief that something may be the case, although without concrete proof. It indicates a level of uncertainty or doubt.

How can I use "can suspect that" in a sentence?

You can use "can suspect that" to introduce a conjecture or speculation. For example, "Based on his behavior, one "can suspect that" he is hiding something."

What are some alternatives to "can suspect that"?

Alternatives to "can suspect that" include "might suspect that", "could suspect that", or simply "believe that", depending on the context and the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "can suspect that" or "can reasonably suspect that"?

Using "can reasonably suspect that" adds emphasis to the rationale behind the suspicion, implying there are valid grounds for it. "Can suspect that" is a more general expression of doubt or uncertainty.