Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

it's doubtful that
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(9)

it's unlikely that

it's improbable that

I doubt that

it is questionable whether

it seems unlikely that

i doubt that

it's hard to believe that

it remains to be seen whether

one might question whether

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's doubtful that Nickell's experiment convinced many believers.

News & Media

The New Yorker

But it's doubtful that the Fed's move will be enough to increase employment and growth.

News & Media

The New York Times

Until then, it's doubtful that its share price will be right for any investors.

News & Media

Forbes

But it's doubtful that commercial rock was Homme's intended destination.

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

It's doubtful that the Chinese government regrets its handling of the incident.

News & Media

Vice

It's doubtful that anyone can rein in the mayhem teeming from Trump's pores.

News & Media

Vice

It's doubtful that more candor from Truman, or anyone else, would have salved Stalin's murderous suspicions.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

It's doubtful that they all believed it.

News & Media

The New York Times

And it's doubtful that the Israeli authorities will take action.

News & Media

The New York Times

It's doubtful that this frankly bizarre episode will change that.

News & Media

Independent

It's doubtful that he'll lay eyes on her again.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it's doubtful that" when you want to express uncertainty or skepticism about a particular outcome or situation. It suggests a lower probability of something happening without completely ruling it out.

Common error

While acceptable, "it's doubtful that" can sometimes sound informal. In formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives such as "it is questionable whether" or "the likelihood of this is low".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's doubtful that" functions as a hedge, softening a statement and expressing uncertainty or skepticism. Ludwig examples show it frequently preceding a clause expressing a proposition whose veracity is being questioned.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it's doubtful that" is a common and acceptable way to express uncertainty or skepticism. Ludwig AI analysis shows its usage is grammatically correct and it's prevalent in news and media contexts. While it's suitable for general communication, consider using more formal alternatives in academic or scientific writing. When writing, it's useful to remember that this phrase softens the statement and should be used when expressing a reservation or questioning an outcome.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's unlikely that

Replaces "doubtful" with "unlikely", emphasizing a low probability.

it's improbable that

Substitutes "doubtful" with "improbable", suggesting a small chance of occurrence.

it seems unlikely that

Adds "it seems" to soften the assertion of unlikelihood.

i doubt that

Shortens the phrase and personalizes the expression of doubt.

it is questionable whether

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal and indirect expression of doubt.

there's little chance that

Emphasizes the minimal possibility of something happening.

it's hard to believe that

Shifts the focus to the speaker's difficulty in accepting something as true.

i'm skeptical that

Expresses a questioning attitude towards the likelihood of something.

it remains to be seen whether

Indicates that the outcome is still uncertain and requires further observation.

one might question whether

Offers a more detached and analytical expression of doubt.

FAQs

What does "it's doubtful that" mean?

The phrase "it's doubtful that" means that something is unlikely to happen or that there is reason to believe something is not true or will not occur.

How can I use "it's doubtful that" in a sentence?

You can use "it's doubtful that" to express uncertainty about a future event or the truth of a statement. For example, "It's doubtful that the project will be completed on time given the current delays."

What can I say instead of "it's doubtful that"?

You can use alternatives like "it's unlikely that", "it's improbable that", or "I doubt that" depending on the context.

Is "it's doubtful that" formal or informal?

"It's doubtful that" is generally considered neutral but leans towards informal. In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "it is questionable whether" or expressing the doubt more directly, such as "the success of this venture is highly questionable".

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Continue with Googlefor free

Continue with emailfor free

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

it's doubtful thatGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's doubtful that
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples