dispositive of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dispositive of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that something is conclusive or decisive in resolving an issue or matter. Example: "The evidence presented was dispositive of the defendant's guilt, leaving no room for doubt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But it is not dispositive of it; these methods are too crude to know for sure.

The New York Times

But the gravity of the threat alone cannot be dispositive of questions concerning what means law enforcement officers may employ to pursue a given purpose.

The New York Times

Any explicit findings that Congress chooses to make, though not dispositive of the question of rationality, may advance judicial review by identifying factual authority on which Congress relied.

The New York Times

Then he called up Innosilicon, the other main mining company, asked if they had a Monero mining farm going back to last year, and received the hilariously casual answer "Yeah, I think so?" None of this is at all dispositive, of course — but it speaks to how the crypto world often seems to run on rumor and rancor more than open communication.

TechCrunch

The Bare Boys purchases were not, she argued, as dispositive of that as the majority claimed.

Wikipedia

"I don't think that any states that operated outside the rules of the party can be dispositive of who the nominee is," Pelosi told Al Hunt.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In fact, one district court in the First Circuit that has subsequently discussed the case concluded that "Cook is instructive, yet not dispositive, on the issue of morbid obesity as an 'impairment.'" Nedder v. Rivier College, 908 F. Supp.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

It seems that the only thing that would have counted as dispositive evidence of Cassandra's maturity, of her capacity to withhold consent, was a willingness to grant it.

The Economist

Hiss sold himself to gullible college audiences, survived the scrutiny of skeptical journalists and even the dispositive research of the most thorough investigation, "Perjury," by Allen Weinstein.

The New York Times - Books

In the neoliberal culture industry where Jay Z is one of several kings, one's commercial success is dispositive proof of artistic greatness.

The Guardian - Arts

"If this is not categorically dispositive evidence of innocence," said David Dow, a lawyer for Mr. Sutton, referring to the results of the DNA testing of sperm collected from the victim, "there is no such thing".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dispositive of" in legal or formal writing when you want to emphasize that a particular fact or piece of evidence is conclusive and resolves a matter definitively.

Common error

Avoid using "dispositive of" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "decisive" or "key" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dispositive of" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the noun is conclusive or decisive in resolving a particular matter. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that something is decisive.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dispositive of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's an adjective phrase with a preposition, predominantly used in formal contexts like legal, academic, and journalistic writing to signify that something is conclusive or decisive. While not as common as simpler alternatives, using "dispositive of" effectively communicates the definitiveness of a particular factor or piece of evidence. Remember to reserve it for appropriate situations to avoid sounding overly formal in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decisive for

Replaces "dispositive" with "decisive", implying a clear and definite influence on the outcome.

conclusive for

Uses "conclusive" instead of "dispositive", suggesting that something settles a matter beyond any doubt.

determinative for

Employs "determinative", indicating a factor that ultimately decides the outcome.

critical to

Suggests something is essential or vital for a specific result. Less formal than "dispositive of".

instrumental in

Highlights the role of something as a key factor in achieving a certain outcome.

significant for

Indicates something has considerable importance or influence.

relevant to

Implies a connection or pertinence to the matter at hand, without necessarily being decisive.

key for

Simple term indicating something that has importance for an event to happen. A little less formal than "dispositive of".

important for

Indicates a high level of importance of something in order to achieve something.

influential in

Indicates the capacity or power to be a compelling force or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, of others.

FAQs

How can I use "dispositive of" in a sentence?

Use "dispositive of" to indicate that something is decisive or conclusive in resolving an issue. For example, "The DNA evidence was "dispositive of" the suspect's guilt."

What can I say instead of "dispositive of"?

You can use alternatives like "decisive for", "conclusive for", or "determinative for", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dispositive of" or "dispositive to"?

"Dispositive of" is the correct and more common usage. "Dispositive to" is not standard English.

Is "dispositive of" formal language?

Yes, "dispositive of" is considered formal language and is often used in legal, academic, and professional contexts.