it merits further study

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it merits further study" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when suggesting that a topic or subject is worthy of additional research or examination. Example: "The findings of this experiment are intriguing, and it merits further study to understand the underlying mechanisms."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the discrepancy between Facebook's representations and what I've been able to discern is so great that it merits further study.

Huffington Post

Therefore, it merits further study in pollination biology to find whether specific pollinators or pollinator behaviors are responsible for the lineage-specific morphological differentiation, especially for the upper lips, in Petrocosmea.

BMC Plant Biology

The measure used to assess identity might not have captured the potential richness of people's identities in relation to smoking after a quit attempt; however, in this first study we wanted to concentrate solely on the two major end-points of potential post-quit identities (i.e. smoker or non-smoker) to evaluate whether it merits further study.

Addictive Behaviors

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These observations are in agreement with our results and our suggestion of heterotrimeric G-proteins acting upstream of JA-signaling, even if the specificity of the Gα- subunit activator mastoparan, used in [ 52], has been questioned [ 53], it is an interesting observation and we think that it merits further studies the role of PaGPA1 and its orthologs in MAMP perception in Pinaceae.

BMC Plant Biology

So, it merits further studies to elucidate down-regulation of BTD in relation to the behavior of breast cancer cells.

BMC Cancer

"It certainly merits further study".

Los Angeles Times

The clustering of Thermococcales and Methanococcales merits further study, because it is not apparent in trees based on ribosomal proteins or transcription components (Matte-Tailliez et al. 2002; Brochier et al. 2004, 2005; Brochier-Armanet et al. 2011) but is in agreement with some common peculiarities in their replication machinery (see above).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Therefore, this region of αH merits further study in other alto taxa, in particular of whether it binds membranes too.

Biology Direct

Although it remains unclear whether correction of nocturnal hypoxia improves kidney function, we believe that this hypothesis merits further study.

Plosone

It is not clear from these studies what the 'correct' proportion of prealerting might be and this merits further study.

Emergency Medicine Journal

"But that, of course, merits further study".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it merits further study", ensure that the subject being discussed is clearly defined and the reasons for further investigation are briefly mentioned to provide context and justification.

Common error

Avoid stating that "it merits further study" without briefly explaining why. Add a clause explaining what aspects require more research to make the statement more impactful and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it merits further study" functions as a recommendation or suggestion for additional investigation. Ludwig examples show its use in academic and scientific contexts, indicating a need for deeper understanding or exploration of a topic.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it merits further study" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in formal English, primarily employed to suggest the need for additional research or investigation. As indicated by Ludwig, it's commonly found in scientific and academic contexts. While "it merits further study" is a valid phrase, remember to provide context and justification for your suggestion to maximize its impact. Alternatives include "it warrants additional research" and "it deserves more investigation". Be mindful of its formal tone and use it judiciously in appropriate settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it warrants additional research

Replaces "study" with "research", emphasizing a more formal investigation.

it deserves more investigation

Substitutes "merits" with "deserves", implying a sense of justification for further examination.

it calls for deeper analysis

Replaces "study" with "analysis" and "merits" with "calls for", suggesting a need for a more thorough evaluation.

it justifies further inquiry

Replaces "study" with "inquiry", indicating a more questioning or exploratory approach.

it is worthy of further exploration

Uses "worthy of" instead of "merits", and "exploration" instead of "study", conveying a sense of discovery.

it is ripe for further examination

Employs a metaphor ("ripe") to suggest that the subject is ready and suitable for more detailed inspection.

it invites more scrutiny

Suggests that the subject naturally prompts or encourages closer observation and evaluation.

it would benefit from further analysis

Focuses on the potential positive outcome of additional analysis.

it prompts further investigation

Highlights the subject's ability to stimulate additional inquiry.

it necessitates further study

Indicates that further study is not just recommended but required or unavoidable.

FAQs

What does "it merits further study" mean?

The phrase "it merits further study" means that something is worthy of additional investigation or research due to its importance, complexity, or potential impact.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it merits further study"?

It's appropriate to use "it merits further study" when you want to suggest that a particular topic, result, or phenomenon requires more detailed examination or analysis to fully understand it. Especially after initial observations.

What are some alternatives to "it merits further study"?

You can use alternatives like "it warrants further research", "it deserves more investigation", or "it calls for deeper analysis" depending on the specific context.

Is "it merits further study" formal or informal?

"It merits further study" is generally considered a formal phrase suitable for academic, scientific, or professional contexts. It may sound out of place in casual conversation.