is somewhat shaky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is somewhat shaky" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, argument, or foundation that is unstable or not entirely reliable. Example: "The evidence presented in the report is somewhat shaky, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As you can see from the video demo segment, the HD video quality is very nice (the vertical pan is somewhat shaky though, as is to be expected shooting freehand).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The evidence suggests that the world consensus is somewhat shakier than Wolfowitz predicted.

The New York Times - Magazine

On Wednesday evening, at the restaurant, things were somewhat shaky.

The New York Times - Style

On many fronts, the arguments that champion lion meat are somewhat shaky.

The Guardian

Carpenter, of course, was brilliant in Game 5 of the N.L.D.S., but he's been somewhat shaky in his other two starts.

The New York Times

Hutchinson simplified the task of her opponents, whose prosecution had been somewhat shaky.

Wikipedia

Even though he had experienced huge success in the wrestling world such as winning "Best Babyface" for ten consecutive years Hogan's track record in entrepreneurship has been somewhat shaky.

Vice

But in recent years her perch in the cultural firmament has been somewhat shakier.

The New York Times

I was signing away my rights to be in these hypothetical children's lives, but the law is still somewhat shaky on the financial particulars of these things.

Vice

The back story of the record is still somewhat shaky, even in these times of finding every member of the Snotbaggs from Scunthorpe on Facebook to re-issue their 7".

Vice

But their conclusions were always somewhat shaky because so few reefs had been evaluated, and even fewer had been monitored over long periods of time (Science, 25 July 1997, p. 491).

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is somewhat shaky" to express a moderate level of instability or uncertainty, avoiding stronger terms when a situation isn't severely compromised. For example, "The data supporting this claim is somewhat shaky, so further investigation is needed."

Common error

Avoid using "is somewhat shaky" when describing situations that are clearly collapsing or failing. Choose more definitive language like "is collapsing" or "is failing" to accurately reflect the severity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is somewhat shaky" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that the noun in question lacks stability or is not entirely reliable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a usable expression, as exemplified by the provided Ludwig examples that demonstrate the usage of "is somewhat shaky" in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is somewhat shaky" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe something lacking full reliability or stability. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While grammatically sound, its usage depends on the intended degree of uncertainty. Alternatives like "is a little unstable" or "is rather precarious" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki and Science and it is important to avoid overstating the instability when using it. Remember to tailor your language to accurately reflect the situation at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is on shaky ground

Uses the idiom "on shaky ground" to describe a situation with potential for failure.

is a little unstable

Replaces "shaky" with "unstable", suggesting a lack of stability.

is rather precarious

Substitutes "shaky" with "precarious", emphasizing a risk of collapse or failure.

is slightly unreliable

Replaces "shaky" with "unreliable", focusing on a lack of dependability.

is not entirely stable

Emphasizes the lack of complete stability, similar to "shaky".

is somewhat uncertain

Replaces "shaky" with "uncertain", highlighting a lack of sureness or definiteness.

is a bit wobbly

Uses "wobbly" for a less formal way to describe instability.

is not very solid

Highlights the lack of firmness or strength.

is a little fragile

Substitutes "shaky" with "fragile", indicating vulnerability to damage or collapse.

is tenuously based

Emphasizes the weak or flimsy foundation of something.

FAQs

How can I use "is somewhat shaky" in a sentence?

You can use "is somewhat shaky" to describe arguments, plans, or foundations that are not entirely reliable or stable. For instance, "The evidence for this theory "is somewhat shaky", requiring further investigation."

What are some alternatives to "is somewhat shaky"?

Alternatives include "is a little unstable", "is rather precarious", or "is slightly unreliable", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "is somewhat shaky" or "is very shaky"?

The choice depends on the degree of instability. "Is somewhat shaky" implies a moderate level of uncertainty, while "is very shaky" suggests a higher degree of unreliability or instability.

What's the difference between "is somewhat shaky" and "is on shaky ground"?

"Is somewhat shaky" describes the characteristic of something being unstable, while "is on shaky ground" is an idiom that describes a situation where someone or something is in a vulnerable or precarious position.