doubts were raised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doubts were raised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to when questions are asked or when someone expresses uncertainty about something. For example, "The budget proposal was met with resistance, and doubts were raised about its feasibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Enough doubts were raised that Salon eventually retracted the story.

The Washington Post

Some doubts were raised even at the time.

The New York Times - Health

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

The New York Times

The more questions were asked about this ailment, the more doubts were raised.

The New Yorker

Grave doubts were raised over Mr. Rodino's qualifications, even within his own party.

The New York Times

And although doubts were raised by the argument, we have come to agree with his interpretation in the main.

Cornell University

When some disgruntled Nuggets skipped practice Dec. 11, more doubts were raised about Issel's future.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Singh resigned last month after doubts were raised about his citizenship.

The New York Times

These same doubts were raised last month before Congress returned to work.

The New York Times

When Joshua was admitted, doubts were raised as to whether Mr Dhasmana should be allowed to operate.

The Guardian

FINANCIAL MARKETS  Moscow lost 13.5% in the week to July 29th, as doubts were raised over its austerity package.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger synonyms like "concerns were expressed" or "questions were brought up" if you want to convey a greater sense of urgency or seriousness.

Common error

Avoid vague statements. Instead of just saying "doubts were raised", specify who raised them to provide clarity and credibility. For example, instead of "Doubts were raised about the project's feasibility", write "Economists raised doubts about the project's feasibility".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doubts were raised" functions as a passive construction, indicating that uncertainty or skepticism has been expressed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is considered grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "doubts were raised" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate the expression of uncertainty or skepticism. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and broad applicability. Predominantly found in news and academic contexts, this neutral register phrase serves to report the emergence of questions, often implying a need for further scrutiny. When using this phrase, be sure to attribute the doubts clearly to enhance credibility and clarity. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "concerns were expressed" or "questions were brought up" to finely tune the conveyed meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concerns were expressed

Replaces "doubts" with "concerns", focusing on worry rather than outright disbelief.

questions were brought up

Substitutes "doubts" with "questions", highlighting the act of inquiry.

reservations were voiced

Uses "reservations" instead of "doubts", suggesting a hesitation or unwillingness to fully accept something.

uncertainties emerged

Shifts the focus to the appearance of uncertainty, rather than the act of expressing it.

skepticism arose

Replaces "doubts" with "skepticism", emphasizing a general feeling of disbelief.

issues were identified

Focuses on the discovery of problems or points of contention.

apprehensions were aired

Highlights the sharing of anxieties or fears about something.

misgivings surfaced

Uses "misgivings" to suggest a feeling of unease or doubt after an initial acceptance.

objections were presented

Emphasizes formal opposition or disagreement.

qualms were articulated

Uses "qualms" to refer to moral or ethical reservations, specifically expressed.

FAQs

How can I use "doubts were raised" in a sentence?

You can use "doubts were raised" to indicate that someone has expressed uncertainty or skepticism about something. For example, "Doubts were raised about the company's financial projections after the audit report was released."

What are some alternatives to saying "doubts were raised"?

You can use alternatives like "concerns were expressed", "questions were asked", or "reservations were voiced" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing the expression of doubt?

Using the active voice (e.g., "Experts raised doubts") can make your writing more direct and engaging. However, the passive voice ("doubts were raised") is appropriate when you want to emphasize the doubts themselves or when the source of the doubts is unknown or unimportant.

What's the difference between "doubts were raised" and "concerns were raised"?

While similar, "doubts were raised" suggests a questioning of validity or truth, whereas "concerns were raised" implies worry or apprehension about potential negative outcomes.