it appears questionable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it appears questionable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing doubt or uncertainty about the validity or reliability of something. Example: "The data provided by the researcher is incomplete, and it appears questionable whether the conclusions drawn are accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It appears questionable, whether seeking mutual responsiveness in form of e.g. aligned expectations, agreement on courses of action, or even agreeing to disagree, would have been possible without jeopardising the project.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

In the present non-dominated framework, however, it appears questionable but indeed rather unlikely that such a worst-case measure (bar {P}) exists in (mathcal {R}) for general claims.

Probability, Uncertainty and Quantitative Risk

Taking these findings together, it appears questionable whether it was really intended to gain new scientific data on API which have been on the market for longer than 10 years.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The TRP classified this proposal as not recommended for funding, reasoning: "it appeared questionable to us that the GFATM is asked to fund a relatively mid-long-term multi-sectoral programme, rather than focusing on gaps that urgently need to be addressed to implement the HIV, malaria and TB programmes that are ongoing... with immediate impact on the delivery of services".

Human Resources for Health

This treatment was included as it appeared questionable whether hardening effects (1 hour exposure) would be measurable after a long-term exposure (19 h) to the cold.

Plosone

As is currently categorized in the ICHD-2 [15] or proposed in the ICHD-2R [17], Medication-overuse headache today is a largely arbitrary entity and its very existence appears questionable for certain subtypes.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

For the iron-based metals, considering their very low corrosion rates and the phenomenon of barrier layer of corrosion product, its suitability for large temporary bone implants such as pins and screws appears questionable.

Progress in Biomaterials

The suggestion appears questionable.

The Guardian

On Co-op Bank's 2009 merger with Britannia Building Society "The commercial judgment behind the decision appears questionable".

The Guardian - Business

Rose's sense of timing in this matter, unlike meeting a fastball with the fat of the bat, appears questionable.

The New York Times - Sports

But for computers belonging to NYPD to be making changes to NYPD entries, especially to controversial events appears questionable.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it appears questionable", clearly state what specifically is questionable to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it appears questionable" without specifying what aspect is questionable. This can leave the reader confused about the source of doubt. Always follow up with an explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it appears questionable" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a degree of doubt or uncertainty. It serves to soften a negative assessment by presenting it as an observation rather than a definitive judgment. As Ludwig AI confirmed, the expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it appears questionable" is a versatile phrase used to express doubt or uncertainty in a measured tone. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for a range of contexts, from scientific discussions to news reports. While relatively rare, the phrase serves to introduce skepticism without making direct accusations. When employing "it appears questionable", ensure you provide sufficient context to clarify the subject of your doubt. Consider alternatives like "it seems dubious" or "it raises doubts" for slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems dubious

Replaces "appears" with "seems" and "questionable" with "dubious", indicating a stronger sense of doubt.

it looks uncertain

Substitutes "appears" with "looks" and "questionable" with "uncertain", suggesting a lack of clarity.

it raises doubts

Uses a verb-based structure to convey that something provokes uncertainty.

it is open to doubt

Emphasizes that something is susceptible to being doubted or challenged.

it is debatable

Indicates that something is subject to discussion and disagreement.

it is suspect

Suggests something is not trustworthy or reliable.

it is under suspicion

Implies something is being investigated due to potential wrongdoing.

it gives cause for concern

Highlights that something is worrying or alarming.

the validity is in doubt

Focuses on the uncertain validity of something.

the reliability is uncertain

Emphasizes the questionable reliability of something.

FAQs

How can I use "it appears questionable" in a sentence?

Use "it appears questionable" to express doubt or uncertainty about something. For example, "The data provided by the researcher is incomplete, and "it appears questionable" whether the conclusions drawn are accurate."

What are some alternatives to "it appears questionable"?

You can use alternatives like "it seems dubious", "it looks uncertain", or "it raises doubts" depending on the context.

Is "it appears questionable" formal or informal?

"It appears questionable" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it leans towards a slightly more formal tone than alternatives like "it seems fishy".

What does "it appears questionable" imply?

The phrase "it appears questionable" suggests that something is not entirely trustworthy, accurate, or reliable, and warrants further scrutiny or skepticism.