confirm the idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confirm the idea" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is verifying a concept. For example, "The results of the survey confirmed the idea that most customers prefer to shop online."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But viral genetics helps confirm the idea.

The Economist

A theoretical study is shown to confirm the idea.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

For asteroids and comets, recent measurements tend to confirm the idea of extremely low bulk densities.

Advances in Space Research

To confirm the idea that sole contraction of the superior oblique muscle causes attacks of superior oblique myokymia (SOM).

American Journal of Ophthalmology

They wanted to confirm the idea that people tend to expect women to volunteer more than men.

Harvard Business Review

The rubbing experiments confirm the idea of using the inner type of stop to suppress the violent backward whirl with low frequency.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The results tend to confirm the idea that POSS incorporated as dangling groups along the macromolecular backbone behave as anchoring groups.

Polymer

Doesn't a National Merit Scholarship Corporation study confirm the idea that eating family dinners together is a recipe for children's success?

The New York Times

In line with the findings of our previous study, these results confirm the idea of priming effects 'specific to the food cue'.

Appetite

When Eric Church sings about Talladega in the song of the same name, from "The Outsiders," it might confirm the idea that country is intended for Nascar Nation.

The New Yorker

Corker and, to a slightly lesser extent, Petraeus would also broadly confirm the idea that Trump isn't solely picking people he agrees with or are nice to him.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confirm the idea", ensure that the evidence you present genuinely supports and strengthens the concept you are discussing. Avoid overstating the confirmation if the evidence is weak or inconclusive.

Common error

Be cautious about mistaking correlation for confirmation. Just because two things occur together doesn't necessarily "confirm the idea" that one causes the other. Further investigation may be necessary to establish causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confirm the idea" functions as a verb phrase used to express the act of verifying or validating a particular concept. Ludwig examples demonstrate it's commonly employed when new data or findings support an existing notion, as affirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "confirm the idea" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that serves to validate or verify a concept. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and wide applicability. As demonstrated by the numerous examples in Ludwig, this phrase is prevalent in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts. Related phrases such as "validate the concept" or "verify the hypothesis" offer alternative ways to express the same notion, with subtle differences in emphasis. When employing "confirm the idea", it's crucial to distinguish genuine confirmation from mere correlation to avoid misinterpretations. The phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

validate the concept

This alternative focuses on establishing the soundness or legitimacy of the idea.

corroborate the theory

This is particularly relevant in academic or scientific settings where a theory is being supported by multiple sources of evidence.

verify the hypothesis

This option is more appropriate in scientific contexts where a hypothesis is being tested.

demonstrate the validity

This emphasizes showing that the idea is well-founded and logically sound.

substantiate the notion

This phrase emphasizes providing evidence to support the existence or truth of the idea.

bear out the assumption

This suggests that the evidence supports a previously made assumption.

affirm the belief

This choice highlights reinforcing a pre-existing belief through new evidence.

prove the point

This variant is suitable when demonstrating the correctness of a specific argument or assertion.

attest to the veracity

This option stresses the truthfulness and accuracy of the idea.

bolster the argument

This alternative is fitting when strengthening an argument with additional support.

FAQs

How can I use "confirm the idea" in a sentence?

You can use "confirm the idea" to indicate that new evidence or findings support a particular concept or belief. For example, "The latest research findings "confirmed the idea" that regular exercise improves cognitive function".

What are some alternatives to "confirm the idea"?

Alternatives to "confirm the idea" include phrases like "validate the concept", "verify the hypothesis" (in scientific contexts), or "substantiate the notion".

Is "confirm the idea" formal or informal?

"Confirm the idea" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, depending on the specific situation, a more formal alternative like "corroborate the theory" might be preferable in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "confirm the idea" and "prove the idea"?

"Confirm the idea" suggests providing support or evidence for a concept, while "prove the idea" implies conclusively demonstrating its truth. "Prove the point" indicates the correctness of an argument.