dubious expression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious expression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a facial expression or statement that conveys uncertainty, skepticism, or doubt. Example: "Her dubious expression made it clear that she was not convinced by his explanation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And she often has the dubious expression of a person who isn't entirely convinced she's got a place on any map.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Her hair is awry, her expression dubious, her skin rendered in faintly lurid shades of lavender, green, orange and yellow — perhaps the effects of Christmas tree lights.

The New York Times - Arts

Among the 12 dubious genes, the expression status of 11 genes was recently analyzed using RNA-seq and ribosome profiling data (Duncan and Mata 2014).

Genome Biology and Evolution

The seemingly highly expressed miRNAs labelled in grey correspond to probes that consistently give signal on the microarrays, but whose expression is dubious as they are not detectable in liver small RNA-seq and thus may rather represent false positive signals from the array.

eLife

On his approach to strike the ball into the low-right corner, he lost his footing and slid, striking the ball narrowly wide, prompting the most dubious exchange of facial expressions between manager Louis Van Gaal and assistant manager Ryan Giggs.

Huffington Post

Therefore, it was considered as dubious to conclude differential gene expression from a single read.

BMC Plant Biology

Our results on the expression levels of dubious ORFs are thus not limited to these ORFs only.

BMC Genomics

This latter result further supports the idea that the expression of the dubious genes is a true biological phenomenon rather than an artifact or a random experimental error.

BMC Genomics

Both works present their subjects with realism, from their gesticulating hands to their gullible expressions to their dubious morality.

The New York Times

Far from a coherent system of thought, Hayman argues, Jung's intellectual legacy was a stone soup of German volk mythology, misappropriated Eastern philosophies, occultism and dubious anecdotal evidence -- the adult expression of fantasies of power Jung had nurtured since his youth.

The New York Times - Books

A similar process has now all but buried free expression: Mexico has the dubious distinction of being tied for first place with Pakistan as the world's deadliest country for journalists.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dubious expression" when you want to convey a sense of skepticism or uncertainty through a person's facial expression. It's more descriptive than simply saying someone looked 'questioning'.

Common error

Avoid using "dubious expression" in contexts where simpler terms like "skeptical look" or "questioning gaze" would suffice. Overly formal language can sometimes detract from clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious expression" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective 'dubious' modifies the noun 'expression'. It describes a particular kind of facial expression conveying doubt or skepticism. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dubious expression" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a facial expression conveying skepticism or doubt. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While not overly common, it finds use in news, media, and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "skeptical look" or "questionable look" offer simpler alternatives. When employing this phrase, consider the context to ensure it aligns with the desired level of formality and clarity. The key is to use the language at your disposal effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skeptical look

Focuses on the visual aspect of expressing doubt, using a more common term.

questionable look

Replaces 'dubious' with 'questionable', emphasizing uncertainty about validity.

unconvinced look

Highlights the lack of persuasion or belief in what is being observed.

doubtful countenance

Uses a more formal term ('countenance') for 'expression', suggesting a higher register.

wary look

Implies caution and suspicion in the expression.

incredulous stare

Suggests disbelief or shock reflected in the facial expression.

distrustful glance

Indicates a lack of trust or confidence conveyed through a quick look.

suspicious air

Focuses on the overall impression of doubt or wariness.

cynical smile

Implies a mocking or pessimistic expression.

uncertain face

Highlights the lack of confidence or clarity shown in the facial expression.

FAQs

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

You can use "dubious expression" to describe someone's facial expression when they are uncertain or doubtful about something. For example: "Her dubious expression made it clear that she didn't believe his story."

What can I say instead of "dubious expression"?

You can use alternatives like "skeptical look", "questionable look", or "unconvinced look" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dubious expression" or "doubtful expression"?

Both "dubious expression" and "doubtful expression" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the nuance you want to express and your personal preference.

What's the difference between "dubious expression" and "skeptical look"?

"Dubious expression" is a slightly more formal and descriptive term, while "skeptical look" is more common and straightforward. They both suggest uncertainty, but "dubious expression" might imply a more pronounced or noticeable display of doubt.