less than credible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than credible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not believable or trustworthy, often in the context of information, sources, or claims. Example: "The witness's account of the events was deemed less than credible by the jury."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

But he is, perhaps, a less than credible advocate.

The New York Times - Books

Therefore, anyone threatening to reveal them was less than credible.

Independent

Furthermore, Mr. Heastie said, he finds Mr. Jackson's claims of being threatened less than credible.

The New York Times

To many, this seemed a less than credible result, and video evidence of egregious voting violations circulated on the Web.

The New Yorker

If not, the hate and death and destruction that follow seem completely avoidable, not to mention less than credible.

The New York Times - Arts

The expectation that private funding will somehow make up the difference, is, with youth unemployment running at a record high, less than credible.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Again, less-than-credible reports from less-than-credible people were used to confirm assumptions that intelligence analysts should not have allowed themselves to believe so strongly in the first place.

The New York Times

Wikipedia is riddled with errors, supported by less-than-credible citations and capable of providing one with only a superficial understanding of the subject at hand.

The New York Times

The recordings are circulated by Mekameleen, a Turkey-based Islamist television channel whose allegiances make it, for many pro-regime Egyptians, a less-than-credible source.

The Guardian

Under the direction of Michael Imperioli Christopherr from "The Sopranos") and Zetna Fuentes, the play has a wobbly style, building tension only to diffuse it with less-than-credible moments (1 30).

The New York Times

(And let's not even get into the less-than-credible, after-the-fact rationalizations for letting Lehman default, which stands as the single worst mistake the government has made in the crisis).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than credible", ensure the context clearly indicates why the subject lacks credibility. Provide specific reasons or evidence to support your assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "less than credible" as a blanket statement without providing concrete examples or reasons. Unsupported assertions can weaken your argument and undermine your own credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than credible" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a deficiency in believability or trustworthiness. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

11%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than credible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey doubt or skepticism about the reliability of something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, providing specific reasons for the lack of credibility strengthens your argument. While alternatives like ""not entirely believable"" or ""somewhat dubious"" exist, "less than credible" provides a clear and widely understood way to express reservations about the trustworthiness of information or sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not entirely believable

This alternative directly replaces "credible" with "believable" and adds a qualifier to soften the statement slightly.

of uncertain reliability

Directly addresses the lack of trustworthiness or dependability.

somewhat dubious

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective indicating doubt or suspicion.

of questionable validity

Uses a more formal and academic tone to express concerns about the accuracy or truthfulness of something.

subject to skepticism

Indicates that something should be viewed with caution and critical evaluation.

lacking in supporting evidence

Highlights the absence of proof or justification for a claim.

not particularly convincing

Focuses on the lack of persuasiveness rather than the inherent truth of something.

open to question

Suggests that something is debatable or not definitively proven.

raises doubts

Highlights the uncertainty created by the information or claim.

hard to swallow

A more informal expression suggesting that something is difficult to believe or accept.

FAQs

How can I use "less than credible" in a sentence?

You can use "less than credible" to describe something that is not believable or trustworthy, such as "The witness's testimony was considered "less than credible" due to inconsistencies".

What are some alternatives to saying "less than credible"?

Some alternatives to "less than credible" include "not entirely believable", "somewhat dubious", or "of questionable validity", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "not credible" or "less than credible"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""less than credible"" often implies a slightly softer or more nuanced assessment than "not credible", which can sound more definitive.

What does it mean for a source to be "less than credible"?

When a source is described as ""less than credible"", it suggests that the information it provides should be viewed with skepticism due to potential biases, inaccuracies, or lack of verification.