doubt was raised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doubt was raised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that uncertainty or skepticism has been expressed about a particular issue or situation. Example: "During the meeting, doubt was raised regarding the feasibility of the proposed project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Further doubt was raised by the very careful way he recounted his past, freely acknowledging those murky episodes that are now common knowledge and "forgiven," while gliding away from those that might still cause him trouble.

The New York Times - Magazine

The moderators were instructed to withdraw children from the study when doubt was raised about the willingness of children to participate.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Three years later, following the revelation that John Christie had killed at least six women, including his own wife Ethel, doubt was raised over the safety of Timothy Evans's conviction.

Historical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The issue... will no doubt be raised for defensive arms".

The Guardian

Still, safety questions will no doubt be raised.

The New York Times - Science

American investigators have long suspected that Mr bin Laden was involved.A doubt is raised, however, by recent testimony in the trial of the East African bombers.

The Economist

His comments in a New York Times opinion piece have been flung back at him repeatedly — and will no doubt be raised again Wednesday night.

The New York Times

After all, this putative warrant dissipates immediately once any earnest doubt is raised (Wright 2000b, yet contrast with Wright 2003 20111).

SEP

They will no doubt be raising a glass of slivovitz to mark the occasion at the George and Dragon in Westerham, Kent, Ukip leader Nigel Farage's local.

The Guardian

But doubts were raised Friday about the South's limited response under the previous policy.

The New York Times

Note: there is no evidence of any doubts being raised over Wang's previous work.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doubt was raised", ensure the context clearly indicates who raised the doubt and about what. Providing specific details strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Don't leave "doubt was raised" without clarifying the source or nature of the doubt. For instance, saying "Doubt was raised about the project" is less effective than "Economists raised doubts about the project's long-term viability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doubt was raised" functions as a passive construction indicating that uncertainty or skepticism has been introduced or expressed. It effectively shifts the focus from the person raising the doubt to the doubt itself. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "doubt was raised" is a grammatically sound and relatively frequent way to indicate the introduction of uncertainty or skepticism, according to Ludwig AI. It is particularly common in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who raised the doubt and the subject of their uncertainty. Alternatives like "concerns were expressed" or "questions were posed" may be more suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncertainty was expressed

This alternative directly states "uncertainty" instead of implying it with "doubt", making the lack of certainty more explicit.

questions were posed

This alternative replaces "doubt" with "questions" and "raised" with "posed", focusing on the act of questioning rather than expressing doubt. It's generally more neutral.

concerns were expressed

This alternative replaces "doubt" with "concerns", indicating worry or unease rather than just uncertainty. It suggests a stronger emotional element.

skepticism was voiced

This alternative uses "skepticism" instead of "doubt", emphasizing disbelief or a tendency to question claims. "Voiced" replaces "raised" to highlight the act of expressing skepticism aloud.

reservations were voiced

This alternative uses "reservations" indicating some hesitation or disagreement, which is a slightly stronger statement than simple doubt.

qualms were expressed

Qualms suggest moral or ethical reservations about something. It is a stronger statement than just doubt.

misgivings were shared

Misgivings suggest feelings of anxiety or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something.

issues were brought up

This focuses on the act of introducing problematic points, rather than directly expressing doubt about something.

objections were made

This implies a stronger disagreement than simply raising doubt; it suggests active opposition.

suspicions arose

This suggests a feeling that something is wrong or dishonest, going beyond mere doubt to imply mistrust.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "doubt was raised" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "concerns were expressed", "questions were posed", or "reservations were voiced". These options provide a more sophisticated way to convey uncertainty or skepticism.

Is it grammatically correct to say "doubts were raised" instead of "doubt was raised"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Doubt was raised" suggests a general sense of uncertainty emerged, while "doubts were raised" implies that specific instances or reasons for uncertainty were presented.

What's the difference between saying "doubt was raised" and "questions were raised"?

While both phrases indicate uncertainty, "doubt was raised" specifically suggests skepticism or disbelief. "Questions were raised", on the other hand, simply means inquiries were made, without necessarily implying skepticism.

What are some situations where "doubt was raised" is appropriate?

The phrase "doubt was raised" is suitable when you want to indicate that someone has expressed uncertainty or skepticism about a particular claim, plan, or situation. It is often used in news reports, academic discussions, and formal debates.