cast doubt on

USAGE SUMMARY

"cast doubt on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing that there are reasons to doubt something. For example: My colleague's alibi cast doubt on his innocence in the crime.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tests cast doubt on one relationship and proved another.

The New Yorker

Meselson cast doubt on it.

The New Yorker

We cast doubt on this assumption.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Our findings cast doubt on this argument.

Columbia University

Others cast doubt on that assertion.

The Washington Post

But studies cast doubt on that.

The New York Times - Health

The move seemed to cast doubt on the officer's story.

The New York Times

But recent evidence has cast doubt on Mr. Coulson's claims.

The New York Times

Mr. Schoenberg cast doubt on the notarized statement.

The New York Times - Arts

Some later accounts by witnesses cast doubt on that claim.

The New York Times

British government officials cast doubt on what will happen next.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "cast doubt on" with a clear explanation of the reasons for the doubt, ensuring the audience understands the basis for your skepticism.

Common error

Avoid using "cast doubt on" with overly broad or unspecified subjects. Instead of saying "This casts doubt on everything", specify "This casts doubt on the accuracy of the financial projections".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cast doubt on" functions as a verb phrase that introduces uncertainty or skepticism about a claim, statement, or belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable expression, frequently employed to question the validity or reliability of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cast doubt on" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to express skepticism or uncertainty about something. According to Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news reporting to academic discussions. Its primary function is to challenge the validity or reliability of a claim. While it appears most frequently in news and media sources, it is also used in scientific and academic writing. Related phrases include ""call into question"" and "raise suspicions about", providing alternative ways to convey similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject of the doubt is clearly specified to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call into question

Similar meaning, but uses a different verb and preposition to express questioning validity.

raise suspicions about

Focuses on creating suspicion rather than just doubt.

throw suspicion on

Uses "throw" to indicate directing suspicion.

challenge the validity of

More formal and directly addresses the validity.

express skepticism about

Directly states skepticism.

undermine the credibility of

Focuses on reducing credibility rather than just creating doubt.

cast aspersions on

More formal and implies defamation.

discredit

A single verb meaning to damage the reputation of something.

impugn

Question the integrity of something.

contradict

A more direct way of saying something is false.

FAQs

How can I use "cast doubt on" in a sentence?

Use "cast doubt on" to express that something makes you question the truth or reliability of something else. For example, "New evidence "casts doubt on" the original theory".

What's a more formal way to say "cast doubt on"?

A more formal alternative to "cast doubt on" is to "call into question". This phrase is suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it better to say "cast doubt on" or "raise doubt about"?

Both "cast doubt on" and "raise doubt about" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on your personal preference and the context of your writing. "Cast doubt on" might sound slightly more forceful.

What does it mean to "throw suspicion on" something, and how is it different from "cast doubt on"?

"Throw suspicion on" implies that someone is being deliberately made to look guilty or untrustworthy. While "cast doubt on" simply means to make something seem less certain or reliable.