dubious support

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious support" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe assistance or backing that is questionable or unreliable in nature. Example: "The project received dubious support from several stakeholders, raising concerns about its viability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Acceptable, perhaps, for now - but without the dubious support of sensational 1m-plus rating episodes that either make or examine mistakes made by the show itself.

The Guardian

Thus they both have an intrinsic interest in spurning the sometimes dubious support of fair-weather third parties whose antipathy to one side or the other can be so odious that it could poison relations indefinitely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The 45-minute claim has often been cited by war opponents as evidence of the readiness of Mr. Blair and his officials to cite any evidence, however dubious, in support of their determination to go to war.

The New York Times

Yet it represents a way of thinking about God and history that possesses, at best, dubious biblical support.

HuffPost

It is a dubious proposition, supported by little validated intelligence.

The New York Times

The New Jersey taxpayers and Governor seem to be dubious of supporting him.

The New York Times - Sports

Some maintain that the whole episode was a disaster, in which capital was thrown away on lousy business propositions, reputable investment banks ripped off gullible investors by sponsoring dubious IPOs supported by questionable research analysts—and lots of individuals got burnt.

The Economist

If budget-conscious Republicans have their way, tax credits for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power would be allowed to expire, while wasteful and unnecessary tax breaks for corn ethanol — an environmentally dubious fuel supported by farm-state legislators of both parties — would be extended.

The New York Times

The reality is that Livingstone's latest attempt to defend his comments that "Hitler supported Zionism" in 1932 before going "mad and killing six million Jews" is in line with his previous controversial remarks, invoking dubious history to support his claims.

The Guardian

In this region, the West has a bad tendency to support dubious governments on the basis that they are, at least, bulwarks against al-Qa'ida and other unruly groups – the Roosevelt doctrine, based on the apocryphal statement that the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza (or, in other telling, the Dominican Trujillo) "may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch".

Independent

Rather, policy may now be the principal impediment to its sustained progress, especially when it may be used to support dubious hopes and permit use of public resources for purposes that lack evidence.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dubious support", ensure the context clearly indicates why the support is questionable. Providing specific reasons or examples will enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the negativity associated with "dubious support". While the support is questionable, it might still have some value or impact, which should be acknowledged.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious support" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "dubious" modifies the noun "support". It describes the quality or nature of the support being provided, indicating that it is questionable or unreliable. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with several examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dubious support" is a phrase used to describe assistance or backing that is questionable or unreliable. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and business settings. While the phrase is not very common, understanding its usage and potential alternatives, such as "questionable assistance" or "unreliable aid", can enhance your writing clarity and precision. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly explains the reasons for the dubiousness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious assistance

Swaps "support" with "assistance" without altering the core meaning, maintaining the sense of doubt.

questionable support

Uses "questionable" instead of "dubious", keeping the original structure and meaning almost intact.

dubious endorsement

Swaps support with endorsement, but retains the meaning of unreliable or uncertain backing

questionable assistance

Replaces "dubious" with "questionable" maintaining a similar level of uncertainty about the support.

suspect assistance

Replace both words with semantically similar synonyms but keeping the original structure.

unreliable aid

Substitutes "support" with "aid" and "dubious" with "unreliable", emphasizing the lack of dependability.

tenuous backing

Uses "tenuous" to highlight the weak or shaky nature of the "backing".

shaky endorsement

Replaces "support" with "endorsement" and "dubious" with "shaky", suggesting instability.

untrustworthy backing

More explicit and descriptive language that is more direct in conveying the true meaning.

uncertain reinforcement

Emphasizes the lack of certainty in the "reinforcement" provided, using a more formal tone.

FAQs

How to use "dubious support" in a sentence?

You can use "dubious support" to describe situations where the assistance or backing received is unreliable or questionable. For example, "The project received dubious support from several stakeholders, raising concerns about its viability."

What can I say instead of "dubious support"?

You can use alternatives like "questionable assistance", "unreliable aid", or "tenuous backing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "dubious support" formal or informal?

"Dubious support" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, you might consider alternatives like "uncertain reinforcement" or "questionable backing".

What does "dubious support" imply?

"Dubious support" implies that the assistance or backing is not entirely trustworthy or reliable. It suggests a degree of skepticism or uncertainty about the value or motivation behind the support.