is not groundless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not groundless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a claim, belief, or argument has a basis or justification. Example: "Her concerns about the project's feasibility are not groundless; there are several factors that support her viewpoint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Perhaps Erdogan, whose indignation is not groundless, would benefit from the counsel of a neighbor, Iran.

The New York Times

Although it is somewhat arbitrary and open to criticism, it is not groundless as González Madroño et al. and Brugler et al. created nutritional screening tools that were based on nutritional markers in RCLMs, and they demonstrated substantial agreement between the created tools and SGA or the occurrence of malnutrition-related complications.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Sadly, this fear isn't groundless.

BBC

And her scepticism isn't groundless; last year, police conducted months of "welfare visits" to working flats in Soho, with dire consequences to those they questioned.

Vice

And her skepticism isn't groundless; last year, police conducted months of "welfare visits" to working flats in Soho, with dire consequences to those they questioned.

Vice

These fears are not groundless.

The Economist

Mr. Zardari's suspicions were not groundless.

The New York Times

These complaints are not groundless and should be taken seriously.

The Guardian

It will be a bumpy journey for the tourism pioneers, but their ambitions are not groundless.

The Guardian - Travel

You've got your millions.' " Though Jeffrey's reasoning is simplistic, it's not groundless.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some critics have complained of it being a work of adolescent sexual fantasy, and their claims are not groundless.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is not groundless", ensure you can subtly hint or directly state what the grounds are, adding credibility to your statement. For example: "The concern is not groundless, given the company's recent financial losses."

Common error

Avoid stacking multiple negatives. While "is not groundless" is acceptable, avoid phrases like "is not without some lack of grounding" as they become confusing and weaken your argument. Opt for more direct positive phrasing when possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not groundless" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a claim, fear, or suspicion has some basis or justification. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The examples from Ludwig show its use in expressing that concerns or suspicions are not entirely without merit.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not groundless" serves as a qualifier, indicating that a claim or feeling possesses some justification, though not necessarily complete validity. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is considered correct and usable. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, and to a lesser extent in scientific and formal business settings. When employing this phrase, ensure you can subtly hint at, or directly state, what provides the grounding, adding credibility to your statement. While acceptable, avoid overusing double negatives for clarity. Alternative phrases like ""has a valid basis"" or ""is based on something"" offer more direct ways of conveying a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has a valid basis

Stresses the validity and legitimacy of the underlying support.

is not completely unfounded

Acknowledges some foundation, though perhaps not entirely solid.

is not without reason

Uses a double negative to affirm the existence of a reason or cause.

is based on something

Highlights the reliance on existing facts or evidence.

has some justification

Focuses on the justification aspect, implying the existence of valid reasons.

has a degree of validity

Highlights that there's a certain extent to which the statement is valid.

possesses a foundation

Emphasizes the presence of a base or underlying support.

carries some weight

Suggests that the claim or argument has influence or importance.

holds some water

An idiomatic expression suggesting the idea has some merit or validity.

is worthy of consideration

Implies that the idea or claim is serious enough to warrant attention.

FAQs

What does it mean to say that a fear "is not groundless"?

Saying a fear "is not groundless" means that there is a valid reason or basis for that fear. It suggests the fear is based on some reality or evidence, rather than being completely unfounded.

How can I use "is not groundless" in a sentence?

You can use "is not groundless" to acknowledge a concern or suspicion while also implying that it has some justification. For example: "His suspicion that he was being followed "is not groundless", given the strange car that has been parked outside his house for days."

Which is a better way to say something "is not groundless": saying it "is unfounded" or "is well-founded"?

Saying something "is unfounded" is the opposite of "is not groundless"; it means there's no basis for it. "Is well-founded" is a stronger, more positive way of saying something has a solid basis, while "is not groundless" simply acknowledges that there's some justification.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "is not groundless"?

Some alternatives to "is not groundless" include "has some justification", "is based on something", or "has a valid basis". These phrases convey a similar meaning of acknowledging a reason or foundation for a claim or feeling.