competing evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "competing evidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing different pieces of evidence that contradict or challenge each other in a particular context, such as legal, scientific, or academic discussions. Example: "The jury was presented with competing evidence that raised doubts about the defendant's guilt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

But this is 2017 — a time of Internet wars, social conundrums and claims to competing evidence about Garfield's gender identity.

The Washington Post

He marshals material exhaustively, immerses himself in details, and forms judgments on a balance of competing evidence.

The Economist

As befits a former prosecutor, he marshals material exhaustively, immerses himself in details and forms judgments on a balance of competing evidence.

The Economist

Feinstein, whose books on sports include "The Last Amateurs" and "A Season on the Brink," does a respectable job of reporting the details of the punch and presents competing evidence conscientiously.

The New York Times - Books

But this is an unusual event, going beyond what Kuhn refers to as "normal science": those often lengthy periods in which scientists try to hang on to their theories in the face of competing evidence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Threads of competing evidence spiraled through Twitter, where one commenter compared the Garfield dispute to Krazy Kat: a sexually ambiguous cartoon predecessor, profiled last month by the New Yorker.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

From an evidential perspective, the patient's request for aid in dying constitutes evidence regarding the patient's prospective well-being, and this evidence must be balanced against competing available evidence.

Johns Hopkins University

She will need to assign weight to the evidence grounded in the patient's request and balance it against competing available evidence, effectively determining whether the patient is within the boundaries of appropriate deference.

Johns Hopkins University

The duel has been sharpened by competing scientific evidence, buttressed by economic disputes over income and jobs and prolonged by the fish farming industry's long refusal to acknowledge any role in the decline of one of nature's great bounties.

The New York Times

To quantify the extent to which the most parsimonious model is better than competing models, evidence ratios were calculated as: (8) w 1 / w k = exp 1 2 A I C k − A I C 1, where model 1 is the estimated most parsimonious model and k indexes each alternative model.

Epidemics

However, policymakers did not use evidence when other contextual forces including politics competed with evidence such as in the reported examples related to establishing new healthcare centers and determining health human resources strategies.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting "competing evidence", clearly outline each side of the argument to avoid confusion. Provide context and source information for each piece of evidence.

Common error

Avoid simply listing "competing evidence" without analysis. Always indicate the relative strength or reliability of each piece of evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "competing evidence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "competing" modifies the noun "evidence". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It serves to identify evidence that presents conflicting or opposing perspectives on a particular matter.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "competing evidence" is grammatically sound and frequently used in diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately describes situations where conflicting or opposing pieces of evidence exist, necessitating careful evaluation. When using this phrase, it's crucial to present all sides of the argument clearly and weigh the evidence appropriately. Alternatives such as "conflicting evidence" and "contradictory evidence" offer similar meanings. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and academic journals commonly employ this phrase, reinforcing its credibility and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting evidence

Replaces "competing" with a direct synonym, emphasizing the clash between pieces of evidence.

contradictory evidence

Similar to "conflicting evidence", but highlights the direct opposition between the evidences.

opposing evidence

Uses a different adjective to describe the nature of the evidence, focusing on the opposition.

rival evidence

Suggests a sense of contention or competition between different pieces of evidence.

disputed evidence

Highlights that the evidence is under debate or challenge.

contesting evidence

Emphasizes the act of challenging or disputing the validity of certain evidence.

divergent evidence

Focuses on the different directions or conclusions suggested by the evidence.

evidence in contention

Shifts the focus to the state of the evidence being actively argued or disputed.

evidence at odds

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that the pieces of evidence are not in agreement.

discordant evidence

Emphasizes a lack of harmony or agreement between the different pieces of evidence.

FAQs

How do you present "competing evidence" in an argument?

Clearly present each piece of evidence, identify its source, and explain its implications. Acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of each side.

What is a better way to say "competing evidence"?

You can use alternatives like "conflicting evidence", "contradictory evidence", or "opposing evidence" depending on the context.

What does it mean when evidence is "competing"?

It means that there are multiple pieces of evidence that support different or contradictory conclusions about a particular issue.

How do I evaluate "competing evidence"?

Consider the source of each piece of evidence, its methodology, and potential biases. Look for corroborating evidence and assess the overall weight of the evidence for each side.