give credence

USAGE SUMMARY

"give credence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to believe or accept something as true or valid. Example: "The investigator decided to give credence to the witness's testimony, believing it to be a key piece of evidence in the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

History appears to give credence to the plan's opponents.

The New Yorker

China's rapidly rising oil imports give credence to that thought.

The Guardian - Opinion

But they did give credence to their dreams.

The New York Times

The statistics seem to give credence to this notion.

The Guardian - Music

Few experts, however, give credence to the Eta theory.

The Guardian

And Edward Snowden's revelations a few years ago I think give credence to that view.

Yale University

The chancellor chose to give credence to Channell's testimony, and rendered a verdict accordingly.

Harvard University

Mr. Willoughby, a Democrat, seemed to give credence to Republican concerns.

The New York Times

These are more inclined to give credence to people's stated desires and feelings.

The Economist

You really want to give credence to any amateur blogger with a laptop?" Citizen journalism?

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The following observations give credence to this point.

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "give credence", ensure that the subject of the phrase is something that provides support or justification, rather than something that needs to be supported. For example, it's more appropriate to say 'The evidence gives credence to his alibi' rather than 'He gives credence to the evidence'.

Common error

A frequent error is using "give credence" when the subject should be the receiver, not the provider, of the validation. Avoid saying 'The suspect gave credence to his story'; instead, say 'The evidence gave credence to the suspect's story' to show the evidence supports the story.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give credence" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of believing or accepting something as true. It suggests that a particular piece of evidence, argument, or statement lends support to a claim or belief. Ludwig AI confirms this with several examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "give credence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the act of lending believability or support to something. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in news media, academic writing, and scientific discourse. When writing, ensure that the subject of the phrase is the element providing the support, not the one receiving it. Related phrases include "lend credibility to" and "support the idea of". This comprehensive analysis provides a solid foundation for understanding and effectively using "give credence" in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lend credibility to

Focuses on enhancing the believability of something.

validate the accuracy of

Emphasizes confirming the correctness of information.

substantiate the truth of

Highlights providing evidence to support the veracity of something.

affirm the validity of

Stresses confirming something is legitimate or sound.

endorse the reliability of

Suggests formally supporting the trustworthiness of something.

support the assertion of

Focuses on providing evidence or reasons for a statement.

ratify the claims of

Implies official approval or confirmation of claims.

accept the premise of

Emphasizes agreeing with the foundational idea.

place confidence in

Focuses on trusting something or someone.

recognize as legitimate

Highlights acknowledging something as valid or acceptable.

FAQs

How can I use "give credence" in a sentence?

Use "give credence" when you want to say that something supports or lends credibility to something else. For example, "The witness's testimony /s/lend+credibility+to the defendant's alibi".

What can I say instead of "give credence"?

You can use alternatives like "lend credibility to", "support the idea of", or "validate the accuracy of depending on the context".

Is it better to say "give credence to" or "lend credence to"?

Both "give credence to" and "lend credibility to" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What is the difference between "give credence to" and "give credit to"?

"Give credence to" means to believe or accept something as true, while "give credit to" means to acknowledge someone's contribution or achievement. The former is about validation; the latter is about recognition.