he doubted that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he doubted that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing skepticism or uncertainty about a statement or belief. Example: "He doubted that the project would be completed on time given the current setbacks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Stone would keep them in shockproof, watertight cases, but he doubted that would suffice.

The New Yorker

But he, too, said he doubted that will be enough to set Manning free.

Huffington Post

He doubted that Iraq would remain intact.

The New Yorker

Mr. Hinkle said he doubted that account.

The New York Times

He doubted that the U.S. had assets on the ground.

The New Yorker

Rosewall said he doubted that Federer would play that long.

The New York Times - Sports

But he doubted that this deal would hold for long.

The New York Times

But he doubted that Egypt had taken a backseat.

The Guardian

He said he doubted that the attackers were Islamist militants.

The Guardian

But he said he doubted that approach would succeed.

The New York Times

But Mr. Reed said he doubted that that would happen.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting someone's opinion, use "he doubted that" to accurately convey their lack of conviction without implying your own agreement or disagreement.

Common error

Avoid using "he doubted that" when a stronger statement of disbelief or denial is more appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "he doubted that" the accusations were false, it may be better to say "he denied" the accusations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he doubted that" serves as a reporting verb construction, embedding a clause expressing doubt or uncertainty. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in relaying someone's skepticism regarding a claim or event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he doubted that" is a versatile phrase used to report skepticism or a lack of certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its prevalence in news and media sources. While suitable for various contexts, it's essential to use stronger negations when expressing outright disbelief. Alternatives like "he was skeptical that" or "he wasn't convinced that" offer nuanced ways to convey similar sentiments. Mastering the use of "he doubted that" will allow you to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was skeptical that

Highlights a general sense of doubt or disbelief.

he wasn't convinced that

Focuses on a lack of persuasion or belief.

he had his doubts about

Expresses a feeling of uncertainty or reservation.

he questioned whether

Emphasizes the act of questioning the truth or validity of something.

he wasn't sure that

Indicates a lack of certainty or confidence.

he considered it unlikely that

Suggests a low probability of something happening or being true.

he disbelieved that

Emphasizes a firm lack of belief.

he expressed reservations about

Highlights the act of voicing concerns or doubts.

he was apprehensive that

Implies a feeling of anxiety or unease about a potential outcome.

he took a dim view of

Indicates a pessimistic or negative outlook.

FAQs

How can I use "he doubted that" in a sentence?

Use "he doubted that" to express a lack of certainty or belief in something. For example, "He doubted that the team would win the championship this year."

What are some alternatives to "he doubted that"?

You can use alternatives like "he was skeptical that", "he wasn't convinced that", or "he questioned whether" to express similar sentiments.

What's the difference between "he doubted that" and "he denied that"?

"He doubted that" implies a lack of certainty, while "he denied that" is a direct statement of disagreement or refutation. For instance, if someone says, "He doubted that the earth was flat", it means the speaker lacks certainty about earth being flat. Saying, instead, "He denied that the Earth was flat", is a more forceful statement.

Is "he doubted that" formal or informal?

"He doubted that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "he expressed reservations about" or other, more sophisticated alternatives.