dubious practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or method that is questionable or not morally sound. Example: "The company's dubious practice of manipulating customer reviews raised concerns among consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

And, of course, sticking Western cameras into unspoiled cultures is a dubious practice.

The New York Times - Arts

These begin with its creaky voting technology and its dubious practice of appointing politicians to oversee elections.

The Economist

A.B.T., as is its dubious practice with the big story ballets, cast everybody and his brother in the lead roles.

The New Yorker

I am always shocked that there are still a handful of defenders of the dubious practice of abstinence, surely the worst idea since chocolate-covered ants.

The New York Times

Self-citation isn't an unusual or necessarily dubious practice – it can often make sense to refer to your own previous work when discussing research in the same area.

The Guardian

Shaw's comprehensive analysis persuades me that the judges in the current Muslim-ban cases engaged in a pretty dubious practice by using Trump's campaign utterances against him.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The accusations made by HP allege several dubious practices.

The Guardian - Business

The recent developments in junk bond investing also highlight, again, the dubious practices and privileges of private equity firms.

The New York Times

Research firms like Mr. Block's Muddy Waters, Citron Research and GeoInvesting are taking direct aim at reverse mergers they say have dubious practices.

The New York Times

Among those respondents who employ mutual fund managers, 70percentt said they thought dubious practices were systemic in the industry.

The New York Times

Tim Webb London Following on from the Uber drivers' employment status victory, the construction industry was also guilty of dubious practices.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dubious practice", ensure the context clearly indicates why the practice is questionable. Provide specific details or evidence to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid labeling something as a "dubious practice" without providing sufficient context or explanation. Simply stating that a practice is dubious without further elaboration weakens your argument and may confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious practice" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "dubious" modifies the noun "practice". According to Ludwig, it describes an action or method that is questionable or not morally sound. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate the phrase's usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dubious practice" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an action or method that is questionable or morally suspect. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is typically used to express concern or disapproval and is found most frequently in news and media contexts. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, it carries a negative connotation, implying a need for further examination or justification. When employing "dubious practice", it is important to provide context and evidence to support the claim. Alternatives such as "questionable conduct", "suspect method", and "fishy activity" offer nuanced ways to express similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable conduct

Focuses more on the ethical or moral dimension of the action.

suspect method

Highlights the lack of trust or reliability in the approach.

fishy activity

Implies a sense of secrecy and potential illegality, more informal.

dodgy scheme

Suggests a plan with a high risk of failure or unethical aspects, more informal.

controversial strategy

Emphasizes the divisive nature and potential for disagreement.

debatable tactic

Highlights the lack of consensus and differing opinions.

untrustworthy procedure

Focuses on the reliability and integrity of the process.

ethically unsound behavior

Directly addresses the moral implications of the actions.

irregular procedure

Highlights the deviation from the standard or accepted norms.

morally ambiguous action

Highlights the difficulty in determining the rightness or wrongness.

FAQs

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

Use "dubious practice" to describe an action or method that is questionable or not morally sound. For instance, "The company's "questionable conduct" raised concerns among investors".

What are some alternatives to "dubious practice"?

You can use alternatives like "questionable conduct", "suspect method", or "fishy activity" depending on the context.

What makes a practice "dubious"?

A practice is "dubious" when there are reasons to doubt its ethical soundness, legality, or effectiveness. This could be due to a lack of transparency, potential for harm, or violation of established norms.

Is there a difference between "dubious practice" and "controversial strategy"?

While both terms imply disagreement or concern, "dubious practice" suggests a stronger sense of doubt or suspicion regarding the morality or legitimacy of the action. "Controversial strategy" simply suggests that the strategy causes disagreements.