doubtful activities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doubtful activities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are questionable or raise suspicion regarding their legitimacy or morality. Example: "The investigation revealed several doubtful activities that warranted further scrutiny by the authorities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Whether Van Rijn's scenario is accurate or mere wild speculation, he points to other similar instances of such doubtful activities at top museums.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even so, most economists still consider fieldwork—"learning by asking", as Mr Blinder puts it a doubtful activity, one reserved for the lowest orders, such as reporters and sociologists.Should economists get out more?

The Economist

So it seems doubtful that such activities suddenly became a lot more important in recent years.

The Economist

Moreover, it is doubtful that these activities will help to meet the health needs of the economically weaker sections of society.

Health Research Policy and Systems

While the BCC resources developed during the initiative have wide applicability, the sustainability and expansion of the project's BCC activities are doubtful due to the lack of a long-term approach for health promotion in Cambodia and necessary government funds.

Unicef

If AAV activity remained doubtful, the patient was excluded from the study.

Annals of Intensive Care

Moreover, the participants felt that physical activity is not medicine but something obvious that should not need to be prescribed: "I have a lot to say about this (PAP) and I was a bit doubtful when it (physical activity) came on prescription, since I view this as self-evident".

BMC Family Practice

"But he actually uses all available doubtful financial mechanisms to hide activities and fortunes in tax havens and behind trusts, far away from the IRS," the US tax authority.

Vice

But even then, "it was extremely doubtful that any of this activity had any effect at all in the real world of improving our sales by restricting piracy," he said.

The New York Times

In doubtful cases, an assessment of the proliferative activity according to the MIB-1 labeling index was found to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis [ 3].

BMC Cancer

4) Women are doubtful about their capacity to carry out their daily activities and their working ability itself.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doubtful activities", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the activities questionable. Provide specific details or evidence to support your assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "doubtful activities" without providing context or justification. Simply labeling activities as doubtful can weaken your argument if you don't explain why they are questionable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doubtful activities" functions as a noun phrase where "doubtful" modifies the noun "activities". This phrase typically serves to describe actions or behaviors that are questionable, suspicious, or lack certainty in their legitimacy. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doubtful activities" is a grammatically correct and usable term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that describes actions that are questionable or raise suspicion. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to explain why the activities are doubtful, avoiding broad or unsubstantiated claims. Alternatives like "questionable actions" or "suspicious practices" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Keep in mind that this is not synonymous of illegal activities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable actions

Replaces "doubtful" with "questionable", emphasizing the uncertainty or suspicion surrounding the actions.

suspicious actions

Replaces "doubtful" with "suspicious", highlighting the element of distrust associated with the actions.

dubious practices

Substitutes "activities" for "practices", which refers to established methods that could be suspect.

shady dealings

Replaces both words with more informal and negative terms suggesting dishonesty and secrecy.

fishy undertakings

Uses informal language to denote activities that seem suspicious or untrustworthy.

unreliable operations

Focuses on the lack of dependability or trustworthiness in the activities conducted.

tenuous endeavors

Highlights the lack of a solid basis or justification for the activities undertaken.

improbable ventures

Suggests the activities are unlikely to succeed or are based on unrealistic expectations.

uncertain pursuits

Emphasizes the unpredictable or insecure nature of the activities being followed.

contentious exploits

Highlights that the activities are likely to cause disagreement or argument.

FAQs

How can I use "doubtful activities" in a sentence?

You can use "doubtful activities" to describe actions that seem questionable or suspicious. For example, "The audit revealed several "doubtful activities" that needed further investigation".

What are some alternatives to saying "doubtful activities"?

Alternatives to "doubtful activities" include "suspicious actions", "questionable practices", or "dubious dealings", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes activities "doubtful"?

Activities can be considered "doubtful" if they lack transparency, have inconsistent results, or contradict established norms or regulations.

Is it better to say "doubtful activities" or "illegal activities"?

Use "illegal activities" only if the actions are explicitly against the law. If the actions are merely suspicious or unethical but not definitively illegal, ""doubtful activities"" is more appropriate.