dubious habit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious habit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a behavior or practice that is questionable or not to be trusted. Example: "His dubious habit of lying about his qualifications raised concerns during the interview process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Only when Poles find a more pejorative term will this dubious habit lose its moral immunity.

The Economist

That is how our politicians fell into the dubious habit of doling out tax incentives to keep employers from moving out.

The New York Times - Magazine

That is because it took to extremes a dubious habit common in its industry: booking the entire value of trades as revenues, rather than merely the profits earned on those trades (a sleight of hand not permitted for financial trading firms such as Wall Street banks).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

All of which has helped enable America's own fiscally dubious habits.

The New York Times

Lewis grew up idolizing Muhammad Ali and, like dozens of fighters of his generation, took on all of Ali's dubious habits, especially the way he kept his hands low and depended for defense on his ability to fall away from a punch.

The New Yorker

More likely, bringing tobacco further into ratings decisions will create new opportunities for ambiguity and confusion, since it seems unlikely that smoking will be any different from any other vice, dubious practice or habit of speech.

The New York Times

As if such developments weren't concerning enough, Svoboda also has a peculiar habit of resuscitating dubious World War II icons.

Huffington Post

Mr Sarkozy says he is opposed to the old French habit of propping up dubious African regimes.

The Economist

Pay close attention to your children's television viewing, especially if they've adopted habits, behaviors or mannerisms of dubious reality TV characters.

WikiHow

Across several policy areas related to national security, the Obama administration continues to resist disclosure, opting instead to follow its predecessor's disappointing habit of hiding inconvenient facts and dubious policies.

Huffington Post

Outsiders are likely to have heard of the president's former secretary in exclusively dubious terms - for her allegedly extravagant shopping habits; for the incident when she punched a British journalist in Hong Kong; and other alleged excesses.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dubious habit", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the degree of negativity or suspicion you wish to convey. It's more appropriate for habits that are questionable rather than blatantly harmful.

Common error

While "dubious habit" is acceptable, overuse can weaken your writing. Consider using more specific and impactful language depending on the context, such as "unethical practice" or "suspicious behavior".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious habit" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "dubious" modifies the noun "habit". As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe a practice or behavior that is questionable or unreliable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dubious habit" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a questionable or suspicious practice. According to Ludwig AI, it implies a lack of trustworthiness or moral soundness. While its frequency is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts, it serves the purpose of expressing disapproval or skepticism. Related phrases like "questionable practice" or "suspicious behavior" can be used as alternatives. When using "dubious habit", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the degree of negativity or suspicion you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable practice

Replaces "habit" with "practice", focusing on the action itself rather than the repeated nature of it.

suspicious behavior

Shifts the focus to behavior that raises suspicion or distrust.

doubtful custom

Substitutes "dubious" with "doubtful" and "habit" with "custom", implying uncertainty about the value or appropriateness of the behavior.

risky tendency

Highlights the potential negative consequences associated with the behavior.

unreliable pattern

Focuses on the lack of dependability associated with the observed behavior.

shady practice

Uses a more informal and negative term ("shady") to describe the questionable behavior.

questionable tendency

Emphasizes that the behavior is only somewhat likely to happen, or is a inclination of character instead of a defined pattern.

debatable routine

Suggests that the habit is open to discussion and disagreement.

controversial behavior

Highlights that the behavior is the subject of widespread disagreement or disapproval.

untrustworthy behavior

Replaces 'dubious' with 'untrustworthy' to emphasis that the behaviour is unreliable.

FAQs

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

You can use "dubious habit" to describe a practice that is questionable or suspicious. For example: "His dubious habit of exaggerating his achievements made it hard to trust him."

What are some alternatives to "dubious habit"?

Alternatives include "questionable practice", "suspicious behavior", or "doubtful custom" depending on the context.

Is "dubious habit" a formal or informal expression?

"Dubious habit" falls in a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal settings, consider more precise and impactful vocabulary to describe the specific issue.

What makes a habit "dubious"?

A habit is "dubious" when it's characterized by an element of doubt, suspicion, or uncertainty about its ethics, effectiveness, or consequences.