doubtful intelligence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doubtful intelligence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe information or insights that are uncertain or questionable in nature. Example: "The report was based on doubtful intelligence, leading to a flawed conclusion about the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

No war should be justified on the basis of doubtful intelligence.

The New York Times

5. Sir Richard Dearlove  As head of MI6 from 1999 to 2004, Sir Richard has obvious questions to answer about the way in which doubtful intelligence was presented as fact.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But if we do live in such a world, it seems doubtful that intelligence, in the rather narrow sense Mensa defines it, has much to do with the way it is organized.

The New York Times - Magazine

The question was brought to the forefront by news reports that President Bush, in his State of the Union address in January, might have staked part of his support for a war against Iraq on doubtful British intelligence suggesting that Iraq had tried to buy uranium for nuclear weapons from Niger.

The New York Times

In Coates's "Between the World and Me," he writes of arriving at Howard at seventeen, doubtful of his own intelligence and even humanity, and finding that "the black world was expanding before me, and I could see now that that world was more than a photonegative of that of the people who believe they are white".

The New Yorker

Successive French presidencies are known to have manipulated the security and intelligence services for doubtful political causes (from the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour in 1985 to the attempts to smear Nicolas Sarkozy himself in the Chirac era).

Independent

It's doubtful they were engaged in useful intelligence work.

The Guardian

It is doubtful that John Williams' brilliant score to A.I. Artificial Intelligence could exist without Philip Glass and Steve Reich.

Huffington Post

Eventually, though, the Germans grew doubtful of their informer and passed on their suspicions to American intelligence officials.

The New York Times

(Extremely doubtful).

The New York Times

Doubtful glances.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doubtful intelligence", clarify the reasons for the doubt. Provide context regarding the source or the process by which the intelligence was gathered to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid making definitive claims or decisions based solely on "doubtful intelligence". Always seek corroborating evidence or alternative perspectives to mitigate the risk of error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doubtful intelligence" functions as a noun phrase, where "doubtful" is an adjective modifying the noun "intelligence". It describes the quality of intelligence as being questionable or uncertain. Ludwig confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doubtful intelligence" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe information of questionable reliability. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, though its usage is relatively infrequent, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; provide context to explain the reasons for doubt. While acceptable, avoid overreliance on "doubtful intelligence" as the sole basis for critical decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable information

Focuses on the reliability of the information itself.

uncertain information

Emphasizes the lack of certainty surrounding the information.

dubious information

Highlights the suspicious nature of the information.

unreliable information

Directly addresses the lack of reliability in the information.

suspect information

Suggests the information is potentially false or misleading.

tenuous intelligence

Implies the intelligence is weak and not firmly based.

flawed intelligence

Highlights the presence of errors or defects in the intelligence.

shaky intelligence

Indicates the instability and unreliability of the intelligence.

speculative intelligence

Suggests the intelligence is based on conjecture rather than concrete evidence.

uncorroborated intelligence

Emphasizes that the intelligence has not been confirmed by other sources.

FAQs

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

You can use "doubtful intelligence" to describe information that is unreliable or questionable. For example: "The decision was based on "dubious intelligence", leading to unintended consequences."

What are some synonyms for "doubtful intelligence"?

Alternatives to "doubtful intelligence" include "questionable information", "uncertain intelligence", or "dubious information", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "doubtful intelligence" in formal writing?

Yes, "doubtful intelligence" can be used in formal writing, particularly when discussing the reliability or validity of information. However, ensure the context is clear and the reasons for the doubt are well-explained.

What's the difference between "doubtful intelligence" and "false intelligence"?

"Doubtful intelligence" suggests uncertainty about the validity of the information, while "false intelligence" implies that the information is known to be incorrect. "Doubtful intelligence" requires further investigation, whereas "false intelligence" should be discarded.