dubious job

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious job" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a job or task that is questionable, suspicious, or lacking in credibility. Example: "He was offered a dubious job that promised high earnings but required little effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I've got a dubious job.

The New Yorker

An unworldly, underemployed young person considering a vaguely dubious job offer overseas would probably not be stopped from migrating by those odds.

The New Yorker

Discontented with the good life and his well-paid, somewhat dubious job as an accident calculator for an automobile firm, he's troubled with insomnia.

The Guardian - Film

Again, our aim is not to defend the questionable practices of for-profit colleges, but rather to draw attention to the fact that colleges of every stripe are soaking up tons of societal resources and saddling students with excessive debt loads in the face of dubious job prospects.

Forbes

Over the last few years, API has funded a number of studies that make dubious job claims.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We've pointed out these kinds of dubious jobs claims before in our database of false and misleading Trump statements.

The Washington Post

But what about the argument that too much of the licence fee goes on hugely paid managers with often dubious jobs?

The Guardian - Film

What has he got to say about those two roles now that it has emerged that his People broke the Sunday newspaper record for dubious jobs ordered from Steve Whittamore, the Operation Motorman private eye: 839 cases against the News of the World's 240?

The Guardian

Depending on your perspective, this might sound like a dream job or a highly dubious occupation.

The Guardian - Books

Just like this dubious 'shop job from 2010, something very egregious is going on with this new February cover of France's L'Officiel Paris.

Huffington Post

"The president is offering only bad medicine — higher taxes, more spending, more dubious 'green jobs' boondoggles, and more tactical blame-gaming," Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota said in a statement from her presidential campaign.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dubious job", consider the level of formality required in your writing. While acceptable in many contexts, more formal writing might benefit from alternatives like "questionable employment" or "uncertain occupation".

Common error

Avoid using "dubious job" in extremely formal or academic papers. Opt for alternatives that convey a similar meaning but maintain a more professional tone, such as "untrustworthy vocation" or "questionable employment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious job" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "dubious" modifies the noun "job". As Ludwig AI highlights, it describes a job that is questionable or suspicious. It indicates uncertainty or a lack of trustworthiness associated with the position.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dubious job" describes employment that is questionable or unreliable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The frequency of this term is uncommon; it is generally appropriate for neutral contexts like news and media. More formal contexts may benefit from alternatives such as "untrustworthy vocation" or "questionable employment". When using the term, consider the potential for misinterpretation and ensure your writing reflects the intended level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable employment

Replaces "job" with "employment" and "dubious" with "questionable", maintaining a similar connotation of uncertainty.

suspicious occupation

Substitutes "dubious" with "suspicious" and "job" with "occupation", conveying a stronger sense of mistrust.

fishy position

Uses the informal term "fishy" to describe the job, implying something is not quite right.

dodgy work

Replaces "dubious" with "dodgy", a slang term suggesting dishonesty or unreliability.

dubious undertaking

Shifts the focus from the job itself to the project or task, implying the task is questionable.

risky career path

Focuses on the potential negative consequences of the job, highlighting the uncertainty involved.

precarious employment

Emphasizes the instability and insecurity associated with the job.

uncertain line of work

Highlights the lack of clarity and reliability associated with the profession.

shady profession

Uses "shady" to describe the job, suggesting unethical or illegal practices.

untrustworthy vocation

Emphasizes the lack of trust associated with the job or field of work.

FAQs

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

You can use "dubious job" to describe a position that seems questionable, suspicious, or unreliable. For example, "He was offered a "dubious job" that paid well but lacked clear responsibilities".

What are some synonyms for "dubious job"?

Alternatives to "dubious job" include "questionable employment", "suspicious occupation", or "untrustworthy vocation", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "dubious job" appropriate for formal writing?

While "dubious job" is generally acceptable, it may be more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. Formal writing might benefit from alternatives like "uncertain vocation" or "questionable position".

What does "dubious" mean in the context of "dubious job"?

In the phrase "dubious job", "dubious" means questionable, doubtful, or suspicious. It implies that there's something untrustworthy or uncertain about the job.