induce uncertainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "induce uncertainty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations, actions, or factors that create doubt or unpredictability in outcomes or perceptions. Example: "The sudden changes in policy may induce uncertainty among the employees regarding their job security."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The variability in the properties of asphalt binders used for road construction could induce uncertainty in the response, performance, and degradation of flexible pavements.

Construction and Building Materials

In addition, infrequently occurring deviant tones (altered in frequency) induce uncertainty about tone identity that may further impact visual-to-auditory predictions (cf. Schwartze, Farrugia, & Kotz, 2013, for sensory predictions).

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

In our model, we use a stochastic approach to induce uncertainty in the opinion of an individual.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

Unpredictable exogenous events such as the disaster in Fukushima induce uncertainty in the type of power generation that may be displaced by new capacity fired by natural gas from LNG imports [8].

Energy Transitions

However, we acknowledge that omission of data would induce uncertainty in the PbA distribution.

Environmental Health Perspectives

They play the role of sensory noise at the first level and induce uncertainty at higher levels.

Consciousness and Cognition

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

However, the mostly qualitative nature of the guidelines for ground categorisation provided by EAK and the general lack of systematic, site-specific geotechnical data for the whole area induce uncertainties in the definition of the seismic design actions for the different zones.

Engineering Geology

Wu, Z. D. et al. Climate data induced uncertainty in model-based estimations of terrestrial primary productivity.

Nature

This study shows that the presence of epistemic uncertainties induces uncertainty in determining the design capacity.

Journal of Hydrology

They are professional Predict, Plan & Execute ("PP&E") machines, and as they have evolved over time, are carefully engineered to stamp out anything that induces uncertainty.

Harvard Business Review

However, this approach induces uncertainty thereby reducing the overall effectiveness of the subsequent incident management and rescue operations.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "induce uncertainty" when you want to emphasize that something actively causes a state of doubt or unpredictability. For a stronger impact, consider the specific type of uncertainty being induced (e.g. financial, emotional, or strategic).

Common error

While grammatically correct, "induce uncertainty" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In such cases, simpler alternatives like "cause doubt" or "create confusion" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "induce uncertainty" functions as a verb phrase where "induce" is the transitive verb and "uncertainty" is its direct object. It is used to describe the action of causing or creating a state of uncertainty, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "induce uncertainty" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for describing the act of causing or creating a state of doubt or unpredictability. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not extremely common, it appears across diverse contexts, with a higher prevalence in scientific and news-related domains. When aiming for clarity and precision in your writing, "induce uncertainty" serves as a valuable tool to articulate the causal relationship between events and the resulting state of uncertainty, but consider alternative phrasing in more informal scenarios. Remember to consider the emotional tone of your writing as alternatives such as "foster insecurity" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generate uncertainty

Replaces "induce" with "generate", focusing on the creation of uncertainty.

create doubt

Shifts the focus from uncertainty to the creation of doubt as the primary effect.

foster insecurity

Highlights the emotional aspect of uncertainty by emphasizing insecurity.

trigger instability

Emphasizes the potential for instability as a consequence of the induced uncertainty.

provoke ambiguity

Focuses on the ambiguous nature of the situation created.

cause apprehension

Focuses on the feeling of worry and anxiety that is caused.

plant seeds of doubt

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe the introduction of doubt.

inject ambiguity

Highlights the act of inserting ambiguity into a situation.

raise questions

Indicates the incitement of questioning or doubt.

breed skepticism

Emphasizes the gradual development of doubt or disbelief.

FAQs

How can I use "induce uncertainty" in a sentence?

You can use "induce uncertainty" to describe actions or events that cause doubt or unpredictability. For example, "The company's vague statements induced uncertainty among investors".

What are some alternatives to "induce uncertainty"?

You can use alternatives like "generate uncertainty", "create doubt", or "foster insecurity" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "induce uncertainty" or "cause uncertainty"?

"Induce uncertainty" and "cause uncertainty" are both grammatically correct. "Induce" often implies a more deliberate or direct action, while "cause" can be more general.

Can "induce uncertainty" have negative effects?

Yes, "induce uncertainty" can have negative effects, especially when it leads to anxiety, hesitation, or instability. For example, "The new regulations induced uncertainty in the market, leading to decreased investment".