dubious calls

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious calls" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to decisions, judgments, or actions that are questionable or uncertain in their validity or reliability. Example: "The referee made several dubious calls during the game, leading to frustration among the players and fans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Both penalties were dubious calls.

The New York Times - Sports

The heat, which was recorded at 93 degrees at game time, may have been a factor; even the umpires struggled, with several dubious calls.

The New York Times - Sports

And in a rain-swept match on a far-from-perfect field, when both teams had their moments and chances and dubious calls to cope with, Suárez's world-class finishing touch made the difference in a 2-1 victory.

The New York Times - Sports

That counted more than the environment or even a few dubious calls by the referee who let Mexico's aggression pay off and penalized America's aggression early enough to make a difference.

The New York Times - Sports

"There were a couple of dubious calls and Paul Wellens got the ball over the line fair and square.

BBC

Polymorphisms in coding regions were inspected manually to exclude a number of dubious calls and further refined by expert analysis to ensure the proper placement of start and stop codons.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

One dubious call does not make a dud referee.

The New York Times

The venerable actor is wonderful in The Best Man, but this seems like a dubious call.

The Guardian

Reid made a dubious call with 23 seconds left in the first half and the ball at midfield.

The New York Times - Sports

* Steve Scott caught Marcus O'Sullivan at the tape in the mile to finish in a dead heat in 3 57.35, a dubious call to many in the audience who felt Scott had won.

The New York Times - Sports

And now his throw-everything-at-the-wall strategy a week before Election Day — particularly a constitutionally dubious call to end birthright citizenship by executive order — is bringing new political headaches.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "dubious calls" with stronger terms like "corrupt practices" if you have concrete evidence of wrongdoing. The more direct language can add more impact to your point.

Common error

Avoid using "dubious calls" excessively in formal academic papers or professional reports. While acceptable, it can sometimes sound less professional than more precise alternatives like "questionable decisions" or "unsubstantiated claims". Use them accordingly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious calls" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. The adjective "dubious" describes the nature of the "calls", indicating they are questionable or suspect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dubious calls" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe questionable or suspect decisions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to express skepticism about decisions and judgments. While usable in many contexts, formal academic settings might benefit from more precise alternatives such as "questionable decisions" or "unsubstantiated claims". Best practices involve ensuring clarity of context and considering stronger language if evidence warrants it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable decisions

Focuses on the decision-making aspect, highlighting uncertainty.

suspect judgments

Emphasizes doubt about the validity of the judgments.

doubtful rulings

Highlights uncertainty in formal rulings or decisions.

questionable calls

Similar structure but replaces "dubious" with "questionable".

controversial decisions

Focuses on the controversial nature of the decisions.

uncertain verdicts

Emphasizes the lack of certainty in the final verdicts.

debatable judgments

Highlights that the judgments are open to debate and discussion.

disputable calls

Emphasizes the ability to dispute or challenge the calls.

tenuous decisions

Highlights that the decisions are weak or shaky.

shady calls

Implies the calls are not just questionable, but potentially dishonest.

FAQs

How can I use "dubious calls" in a sentence?

You can use "dubious calls" to describe decisions or judgments that are questionable or uncertain. For example, "The referee made several "dubious calls" during the game, affecting the final score."

What are some alternatives to "dubious calls"?

Some alternatives include "questionable decisions", "suspect judgments", or "doubtful rulings", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "dubious calls" or "dubious call"?

"Dubious calls" is used when referring to multiple questionable decisions, while "dubious call" refers to a single questionable decision. The choice depends on whether you're discussing one or more decisions.

Is "dubious calls" a formal or informal expression?

While generally acceptable, "dubious calls" leans towards a neutral register. In highly formal contexts, consider using more precise language such as "questionable decisions" or "unsubstantiated claims".