doubtful result

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doubtful result" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing outcomes or conclusions that are uncertain or questionable in nature. Example: "The experiment yielded a doubtful result, leading the researchers to question their methodology."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Where is Mr Christopher and their other advocates in Parliament who spent many long days in discussing the Canadian Corn Bill, a bill of such doubtful result, if any, that all parties were disagreed among themselves as to whether it would produce greater restriction or freedom of supply?

The Economist

A probable case was any suspected case with either a positive or doubtful result on direct microscopic examination of CSF.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A doubtful result was indicated by a rare organism and <10 leukocytes/mm CSF (or count not made).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

According to Gianella [ 20] ratio ≤ 0.074 was regarded as a negative result, 0.075 – 0,082 as a doubtful result and ratio ≥ 0.083 was regarded as a positive result.

BMC Veterinary Research

tested; pos, no. with positive result; D, no. with doubtful result; %, prevalence; CI, confidence interval; young, nulliparous; NA, not applicable; old, pregnant and lactating.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Positive results by c-ELISA corresponded to a percentage of inhibition (PI) <50, doubtful result if 40>PI≤50, and negative when PI >50.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The present comment concerns some doubtful results included in the above paper.

Chemical Engineering Science

They were both the first to congratulate each other after the doubtful results of their election were announced.

The Guardian - Opinion

Andreessen's telepathic method — extrapolating the future from current trends — may be the best available, but it has had doubtful results.

The New Yorker

In previous years he was accused of publicizing doubtful results without checking them, and was criticized for research that contributed to a government campaign suggesting that Ecstasy made "holes in the brain".

The New York Times - Science

If doubtful results are obtained, the substance identity can be verified by using the retention sample.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doubtful result", clarify the reason for the doubt to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify whether the doubt arises from methodological flaws, conflicting data, or external factors.

Common error

Avoid using "doubtful result" when the outcome is definitively proven incorrect. "Doubtful" implies uncertainty, not outright falsity. If the result is known to be wrong, use terms like "invalid result" or "erroneous finding" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doubtful result" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "doubtful" modifies the noun "result". It serves to qualify the nature of the result, indicating a lack of certainty or reliability. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doubtful result" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for conveying uncertainty about an outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suggests alternatives like "uncertain outcome" or "questionable outcome". While not extremely frequent, it appears across diverse contexts, including science, news, and formal writing. The scientific context of "doubtful result" makes up a bigger fraction of the overall usage. When employing this phrase, ensure you clarify the reasons behind the doubt to improve clarity and contextual understanding. Be aware that overstating the doubt when the outcome is definitively incorrect is a common mistake.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncertain outcome

Focuses on the uncertainty of the final result.

questionable outcome

Emphasizes the disputable or suspect nature of the result.

dubious conclusion

Highlights the unlikelihood of the result being accurate or reliable.

unreliable findings

Stresses the lack of dependability in the obtained findings.

tenuous outcome

Suggests that the result is fragile and not firmly established.

suspect result

Indicates the result is viewed with suspicion or distrust.

improbable conclusion

Conveys that the result is unlikely to be true or accurate.

equivocal finding

Implies the result is ambiguous and open to multiple interpretations.

unconvincing evidence

Emphasizes that the evidence does not adequately support the result.

debatable conclusion

Highlights that the result is open to debate and disagreement.

FAQs

What does "doubtful result" mean?

A "doubtful result" indicates an outcome or conclusion that is uncertain, questionable, or not entirely convincing. It suggests there may be reasons to distrust or question the validity of the findings.

How to use "doubtful result" in a sentence?

You can use "doubtful result" to describe experiments, studies, or situations where the outcome is not clear or reliable. For instance: "The experiment yielded a "doubtful result", prompting further investigation."

What can I say instead of "doubtful result"?

You can use alternatives like "uncertain outcome", "questionable outcome", or "dubious conclusion" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to classify a doubtful result as positive or negative?

The classification of a doubtful result depends on the specific context and the potential consequences of each type of error. In some cases, it may be safer to classify it as positive to avoid missing a true positive, while in other situations, it may be better to classify it as negative to avoid false positives.