dubious probabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious probabilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing uncertain or questionable likelihoods in various contexts, such as statistics, risk assessment, or decision-making. Example: "The study presented dubious probabilities regarding the effectiveness of the new drug, raising concerns among the researchers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It opens up a niche for bottom-feeding companies to terrify hypochondriacs by turning dubious probabilities into Genes of Doom.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Chomsky claims that the UG came about by "true emergence" rather than traditional Darwinian natural selection, but this claim is dubious because "the probability of the UG and the right vocal anatomy resulting either from a single mutation or a simultaneous combination of mutations is vanishingly small" (p. 72).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The greedy algorithm is a dubious choice for evolutionary studies, since, for example, the probability of an evolving population moving from one code to the next in any evolutionary model should be a function of the probability of occurrence of the proper mutation and the probability of subsequent fixation, and the greedy algorithm ignores the probability of occurrence altogether.

Biology Direct

Confirmed spills detected in ENVISAT/ASAR images were used to create a decision-tree procedure that classifies every distinct dark object visible in SAR images into one out of four categories, which reflect growing probability of the oil spill presence: look-alikes, dubious spots, blurred spots and potential oil spills.

ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

Dubious prospects.

The New York Times - Sports

Again, dubious.

The Economist

Dubious tallies?

The Economist

Or probabilities?

The New Yorker

Honduras is dubious.

The New Yorker

Gail: I'm dubious.

The New York Times

I was dubious.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dubious probabilities" when you want to express skepticism or doubt regarding the accuracy or reliability of statistical assessments or likelihood predictions.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the level of doubt associated with "dubious probabilities". Ensure that the skepticism expressed is proportional to the evidence or lack thereof. Overstating the dubiousness can undermine the credibility of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious probabilities" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. The adjective "dubious" qualifies the noun "probabilities", indicating that these probabilities are questionable or suspect. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in contexts where skepticism or uncertainty about likelihoods is present.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dubious probabilities" is a phrase used to express skepticism or doubt about the validity or reliability of calculated probabilities. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, particularly in news and scientific publications. While not very common, as per examples, it serves to question statistical assessments and predictions effectively. Alternative phrases include "questionable likelihoods" and "uncertain odds". When using "dubious probabilities", clarity is key, as overstating the skepticism can undermine credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable likelihoods

Replaces "dubious" with "questionable", emphasizing doubt about the likelihood.

uncertain odds

Substitutes "probabilities" with "odds", offering a more concise expression of uncertain outcomes.

unreliable chances

Replaces "dubious" with "unreliable" and "probabilities" with "chances", indicating a lack of dependability.

doubtful prospects

Shifts the focus to "prospects" rather than a numerical assessment, implying a low expectation of success.

tenuous possibilities

Uses "tenuous" and "possibilities" to describe outcomes that are weak or unlikely to occur.

implausible scenarios

Focuses on the scenarios being not believable or realistic.

debatable likelihoods

Indicates that the likelihood of something is open to debate or dispute.

speculative forecasts

Highlights that the probability estimations are based on conjecture and not firm evidence.

uncertain predictions

Replaces probabilities with predictions that lack sureness.

shaky odds

Uses "shaky" to mean unstable and unreliable odds.

FAQs

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

You can use "dubious probabilities" to describe situations where the likelihood of an event is uncertain or questionable. For example, "The study presented "dubious probabilities" regarding the effectiveness of the new drug, raising concerns among the researchers."

What are some alternatives to using "dubious probabilities"?

Alternatives include "questionable likelihoods", "uncertain odds", or "doubtful prospects", depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "dubious probabilities" or "uncertain probabilities"?

"Dubious probabilities" implies a stronger sense of skepticism or doubt than "uncertain probabilities". "Uncertain probabilities" simply suggests a lack of certainty, while "dubious probabilities" suggests there's reason to question the validity or reliability of the probabilities.

In what context is "dubious probabilities" most appropriate?

"Dubious probabilities" is most appropriate in contexts where you want to critically assess statistical claims, predictions, or risk assessments. It's suitable for expressing skepticism about data or models that may be flawed or unreliable.