is potentially false

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is potentially false" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility that a statement or claim may not be true. Example: "The assertion that the experiment will yield the same results every time is potentially false, as various factors can influence the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A limitation of this study is potentially false positive associations among the many associations evaluated.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Since the majority of TFBSs are potentially false positives, we applied the following filtering criteria to identify reliable TNs as follows.

BMC Genomics

If these predicted exons overlap but do not exactly match to an exon in another isoform of the original annotation they are potentially false positive predictions and can be deselected.

BMC Genomics

Another limitation is that we were unable to perform neither bile solubility nor latex-agglutination tests with negative NP samples and thus up to 3%% of our negative samples were potentially false-negative.

BMC Infectious Diseases

This approach is potentially problematic as false-negative reference standards could arise in patients in whom it is difficult to obtain sufficiently high quality sputum samples, in those with HIV-associated TB who do not have pulmonary involvement and also due to variation in sputum processing protocols, including stringency of sputum decontamination procedures.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The questionnaire must be notarized — providing false answers is potentially a federal crime — and the nominee's tax returns attached.

The New York Times

Given that SR proteins primarily bind to sequences in exonic DNA [ 5], this suggests that there is potentially a high level of false positives associated with ESEfinder.

Breast Cancer Research

A system that routinely issues false alarms is potentially even more harmful than a system that fails to notice an outbreak until it is already past its epidemic peak.

Emerging Health Threats Journal

Our data indicate that the rate of false positive results is potentially high in some patient collectives of risk; for example, after cardiac artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Critical Care

This is potentially inflationary.

The Economist

That is potentially dangerous.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is potentially false", consider the context and audience. If a more direct statement is appropriate, use alternatives like "may be incorrect" or "could be untrue". If precision is key, retain the phrase.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of hedging phrases like "is potentially false" in situations where a more assertive statement would be more impactful. Over-hedging can weaken your argument or make you sound uncertain when you are not.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is potentially false" functions as a qualifier, adding a degree of uncertainty to a statement. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It modifies the assertion, suggesting it might not be entirely accurate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is potentially false" serves as a useful linguistic tool for expressing uncertainty and qualifying claims. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and sees common use in both science and media. When writing, be mindful of the context and your audience, and avoid overuse of this phrase to maintain clarity and impact. Consider alternatives like "could be untrue" or "might be incorrect" to vary your language and ensure your message is delivered effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has the potential to be false

Rephrases using "has the potential", adding emphasis.

could be untrue

Replaces "potentially false" with a simpler and more direct expression of uncertainty about truth.

might be incorrect

Substitutes "false" with "incorrect", focusing on the inaccuracy of the statement.

may be erroneous

Uses "erroneous" instead of "false", suggesting a formal or technical context.

is possibly wrong

Replaces "potentially" with "possibly" and "false" with "wrong", resulting in a more casual tone.

could turn out to be untrue

Adds the element of time, suggesting the falsehood may be revealed later.

might prove to be incorrect

Similar to the above, but with a more formal tone using "prove to be".

is under suspicion of being false

Emphasizes that the statement is suspected of being untrue.

is liable to be false

Uses "liable" to suggest a high probability of being false.

is at risk of being false

Adds a sense of risk or danger associated with the potential falsehood.

FAQs

How can I use "is potentially false" in a sentence?

Use "is potentially false" to express the possibility that a statement or claim may not be true. For example: "The assertion that the experiment will yield the same results every time "is potentially false", as various factors can influence the outcome."

What are some alternatives to "is potentially false"?

You can use alternatives like "could be untrue", "might be incorrect", or "may be erroneous" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is potentially false"?

It is appropriate to use "is potentially false" when you want to express uncertainty about the truthfulness of a statement while acknowledging that it could also be true. It's useful in academic writing, scientific reports, and news articles where objectivity is important.

What is the difference between "is potentially false" and "is definitely false"?

"Is potentially false" indicates a possibility of being untrue, while "is definitely false" asserts that something is certainly not true. The former expresses uncertainty, while the latter expresses certainty. If you say something "is definitely false", there is no doubt.