insubstantial evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"insubstantial evidence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe evidence that is weak or inadequate in supporting a claim. For example, "The prosecutor had insubstantial evidence to prove the defendant's guilt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

On this insubstantial evidence it has been claimed that the Chinese anticipated Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although often insubstantial, evidence for incipient and developing management of rainforest vegetation and of developing complex relationships with plants is present, and early enough to suggest that during the Early to mid-Holocene this vast region was marked by different approaches to plant food production.

Journal of Archaeological Science

"His misguided conviction that the 'faction' had espoused violence as its primary method of opposition, for example, kept him from recognizing the radicals' peace-keeping efforts....Equally dangerous, Bernard's elaborate accounts were sometimes built on insubstantial evidence".

Wikipedia

The ability of character compatibility analysis to fail in this manner should be considered an advantage: One is less likely to propose a tree based on insubstantial evidence".

Biology Direct

Lastly, given the still insubstantial evidence on age and gender, the null hypothesis is tested that types and rates of child problems will be similar across age-groups and gender.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Last week, his lawyers criticized the agency's evidence as insubstantial and unauthentic.

The New York Times - Sports

They recommended against appointment of an independent counsel because the evidence was insubstantial and provided little promise that further investigation would prove worthwhile, law enforcement officials said.

The New York Times

Whether or not the plane is found in that last 30,000-odd sq kms of seabed, investigators will have to take the available evidence, however insubstantial, and put forward their best guess as to what happened in the final moments of flight MH370.

The Guardian

Some commentators during the Revolution detected prerevolutionary sentiments in The Marriage of Figaro, but the evidence is too insubstantial to argue for any intention on the author's part.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Government's theory seems to be, in ultimate logical reach, that the error presented by the variance is insubstantial and harmless, if the evidence offered specifically and properly to convict each defendant would be sufficient to sustain his conviction, if submitted in a separate trial.

Cornell University

In a recording of a conversation between officers working on the case, a detective with the Criminal Intelligence Unit acknowledged that the evidence against Brandenburg appeared insubstantial.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating claims, be wary of arguments built on "insubstantial evidence". Always seek corroborating or more robust support before accepting conclusions.

Common error

Avoid drawing firm conclusions or making strong claims based on "insubstantial evidence". Acknowledge the limitations and suggest further investigation is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insubstantial evidence" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier to describe the quality or nature of the evidence being presented. It indicates that the evidence lacks weight or significance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Science

25%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "insubstantial evidence" effectively conveys that the available proof is weak and unconvincing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and useful phrase, commonly appearing in news, scientific, and academic sources. When using this phrase, ensure you are accurately portraying the evidence's quality and consider stronger alternatives like "weak evidence" or "flimsy evidence" to add nuance. Avoid overstating conclusions based on such evidence, and always seek more robust support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weak evidence

Focuses on the lack of strength or persuasiveness of the evidence.

flimsy evidence

Emphasizes the fragility and unreliability of the evidence.

tenuous evidence

Highlights the slenderness or lack of a solid basis for the evidence.

scant evidence

Indicates a lack of sufficient amount of evidence.

meager evidence

Stresses the inadequacy and poor quality of the evidence.

limited evidence

Highlights that the available evidence is restricted.

deficient evidence

Focuses on the incompleteness of the evidence.

unconvincing evidence

Emphasizes the failure of the evidence to persuade or convince.

dubious evidence

Suggests that the evidence is questionable or doubtful.

negligible evidence

Underlines the insignificance and minimal impact of the evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "insubstantial evidence" in a sentence?

You can use "insubstantial evidence" to describe a situation where the available evidence is weak or inadequate to support a claim. For example, "The case was dismissed due to "insubstantial evidence"."

What are some alternatives to saying "insubstantial evidence"?

Alternatives to "insubstantial evidence" include "weak evidence", "flimsy evidence", or "tenuous evidence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "insubstantial evidence" in formal writing?

Yes, "insubstantial evidence" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in legal, academic, or journalistic contexts where the strength of evidence is being assessed.

What does it mean when evidence is described as "insubstantial"?

When evidence is described as "insubstantial", it means it is weak, flimsy, and not convincing enough to support a particular claim or argument. It suggests the need for more or stronger evidence.