incomplete proof

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incomplete proof" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to mathematics, logic, or any situation where an argument or demonstration is not fully developed or lacks sufficient evidence. Example: "The mathematician presented an incomplete proof, leaving several key steps unaddressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Genentech is seeking accelerated F.D.A. approval, which the agency can grant to drugs for life-threatening diseases, even when there is incomplete proof of effectiveness.

The New York Times

"The government's practice of presenting incomplete proof calculated to exclude all evidence adverse to its litigation position, while permissible as a trial tactic, does not induce confidence that the government will eschew the opportunity to argue misleading inferences," the judge wrote.

The New York Times

Prior justifies the axioms and rules of Q on purely intuitive grounds; he provides no real logic for which Q is a complete (or even incomplete) proof theory.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

There's also a side gallery devoted to printmaking, in which incomplete proofs can have their own status as semi-artworks.

The Guardian - Arts

Dodgson's last work was an elegant, incomplete logical proof of the impossibility of the doctrine of hell.

The New Yorker

But more often, the report went on, the department was late in responding, and then it would classify the requests as "pending" and return them, calling them incomplete and demanding more proof.

The New York Times

However, the proof is incomplete without showing a boundedness of all solutions.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

Kato, K. Imai, T. Asano, An improved algorithm for the minimum Manhattan network problem, ISAAC'02, in: LNCS, vol. 2518 , 2002 pp. 344 356] have given a factor 2-approximation algorithm, however their correctness proof is incomplete.

Theoretical Computer Science

Second, although the equivalence between ARBs and ACE inhibitors has been demonstrated, the proof is incomplete.

American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs

Finally, given that higher-order logic is incomplete, there are always proofs that will be entirely out of reach for any automated reasoning program.

SEP

Although it has been established with clear assumptions for geometric planners, the panorama of completeness results for kinodynamic planners is still incomplete, as most existing proofs rely on strong assumptions that are difficult, if not impossible, to verify on practical systems.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing research or legal matters, use "incomplete proof" to accurately represent the stage of evidence or validation. This avoids overstating the strength of the claim.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "incomplete proof" as conclusive. Clearly indicate the limitations of the evidence to maintain credibility and transparency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incomplete proof" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "incomplete" modifies the noun "proof". It typically identifies a situation where the evidence presented is not fully convincing or lacks essential components. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable term.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incomplete proof" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe evidence or validation that is not fully conclusive or developed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most commonly found in news, scientific, and business contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to avoid overstating the strength of the evidence and to clearly indicate its limitations. Alternative phrases like "partial evidence" or "limited substantiation" can be used depending on the specific context to provide a more nuanced description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fragmentary proof

Highlights that the proof is composed of fragments, not a complete whole.

partial evidence

Focuses on the evidence being only a portion of what's needed.

limited substantiation

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the supporting information.

lacking confirmation

Focuses on the absence of proper confirmation.

deficient validation

Highlights the lack of sufficient validation.

unconfirmed claim

Shifts the focus to the claim lacking full confirmation.

unproven assertion

Highlights the assertion that is not proven.

unsubstantiated argument

Highlights that the argument is not supported.

inconclusive demonstration

Indicates the demonstration doesn't reach a definitive conclusion.

sketchy evidence

Suggests the evidence is insubstantial and potentially unreliable.

FAQs

How can I use "incomplete proof" in a sentence?

You might say, "The prosecution presented an "incomplete proof", making it difficult to secure a conviction" or "The study's findings offered "incomplete proof" of the drug's effectiveness".

What is an alternative to saying "incomplete proof"?

Consider using phrases like "partial evidence", "limited substantiation", or "unconfirmed claim" depending on the specific context.

Is "incomplete proof" grammatically correct?

Yes, "incomplete proof" is grammatically correct. It combines the adjective "incomplete", meaning not finished or not whole, with the noun "proof", referring to evidence or argument establishing a fact or truth.

What's the difference between "incomplete proof" and "insufficient evidence"?

"Incomplete proof" suggests the evidence exists but isn't fully developed, whereas "insufficient evidence" implies the existing evidence is inadequate to support a claim. You can consider "insufficient proof" as a reciprocal of the query.