it was unsound

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was unsound" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not based on good reasoning, logic, or is flawed in some way. Example: "The decision to invest in that company was unsound, as their financial reports were misleading."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was unsound theory, they insisted.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is unsound.

The New York Times

Some will argue that it is unsound to provide different versions of journalism in print and online.

The New York Times

The Mussolini man-crush so upset James Thurber that he wrote, 23 years after Rogers's death, that Rogers's "irresponsible observations" showed that "political satire can be as dangerous as an unguided missile when it is unsound".

The New York Times - Books

But, of course, in order to show that intelligent design is not good science, and therefore that it's unsound pedagogy to be touting it as an alternative to Darwinian evolution, it helps to remind people how broadly supported the theory of evolution is by recent developments across the sciences — in genetics, for example, as well as in paleontology.

The New Yorker

It is "unsound" and "incompetent".Some readers may be sceptical of Mr Jack's left-wing conservatism, and wonder whether the economic changes and "rootless wealth" he seems to lament did not bring some benefits alongside the dodgy privatisations and "slapdash new primitivism of shopping malls and car parks".

The Economist

A more satisfying response to the ontological argument would, of course, show not merely that the ontological argument is unsound, but also precisely why it is unsound.

SEP

The ontological argument is, of course, a notable exception, and, consequently, the advocate of the argument from evil certainly needs to be able to show that it is unsound.

SEP

These findings indicate that it is unsound to use exogenous H2O2 to simulate oxidative stress induced by elevated dissolved oxygen levels since the response to each might be quite different, both in terms of enzymatic (defensive) responses and in terms of culture morphology.

Journal of Biotechnology

In my opinion it is unsound pedagogically to use a teaching model for younger learners from economically stressed neighborhoods even if it is being successfully employed for mature students who have already established learning styles and have enriched educational backgrounds from privilege or exceptional opportunity.

Huffington Post

It is unsound because, at most, it is a principle of courtesy that we should reward all those who have benefited us, while reciprocity is supposed to be a principle of justice.

Bioethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was unsound" when you want to express that a theory, argument, or structure is flawed in its reasoning or construction.

Common error

While "it was unsound" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "the methodology was flawed" or "the argument lacked empirical support" to convey your critique with greater specificity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was unsound" functions as a subject complement, describing a quality or state of the subject (it). It asserts that something possessed a flaw, weakness, or lack of solid foundation. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was unsound" is a versatile expression used to convey that something is flawed, illogical, or lacks a solid foundation. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. It functions as a subject complement, primarily serving to express criticism or disagreement. While it maintains a neutral to formal tone, its usage is more frequent in contexts like News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. For those aiming for more precision, alternatives such as "it was flawed" or "it was baseless" can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was flawed

Emphasizes the presence of defects or imperfections.

it was untenable

Highlights the indefensibility or impossibility of maintaining a position or argument.

it was illogical

Focuses on the lack of logical consistency or reasoning.

it was baseless

Indicates the absence of a solid foundation or evidence.

it was indefensible

Stresses the inability to justify or defend something.

it was invalid

Highlights that something is not factual, legally acceptable, or correctly reasoned.

it was unreasonable

Suggests a lack of sound judgment or fairness.

it was erroneous

Emphasizes that something contains errors or inaccuracies.

it was misguided

Focuses on a flaw in direction or planning.

it was fallacious

Highlights the use of deceptive or misleading arguments.

FAQs

How can I use "it was unsound" in a sentence?

You can use "it was unsound" to indicate that something is flawed or not well-founded. For example: "The economic theory "it was unsound", leading to poor policy decisions."

What can I say instead of "it was unsound"?

Alternatives include "it was flawed", "it was invalid", or "it was baseless", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "it was unsound" or "it is unsound"?

"It was unsound" refers to something that was unsound in the past, while "it is unsound" refers to something that is currently unsound. The correct choice depends on the intended time frame.

What's the difference between "it was unsound" and "it was not sound"?

"It was unsound" implies a fundamental flaw or weakness, while "it was not sound" simply means it lacked the quality of being sound. "It was unsound" is a stronger statement indicating inherent deficiency.