looks questionable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks questionable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing doubt or uncertainty about the validity or reliability of something. Example: "The evidence presented in the report looks questionable, and further investigation is needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

That assumption now looks questionable.

The Guardian

The accounting treatment looks questionable.

The New York Times

But every decision that led to the crash now looks questionable.

The Economist

Yet in both movies and software, and in some other industries, the timing of the new idea looks questionable.

The Economist

The procedure is contested by the athlete and her coach and looks questionable at the level of the IJF.

The Guardian - Sport

He and his directors received pay rises of more than 300%." Some of the expenditure authorised by the CBF also looks questionable.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Investment decisions made a year ago now look questionable.

The Economist

True, Exxon's huge outlay on XTO is starting to look questionable.

The New York Times

But officials conceded that certain expenses looked questionable in an economic downturn.

The New York Times

The Nano's prospects farther afield, in traditional car markets, look questionable.

The Economist

But by the end of the year that judgment was beginning to look questionable.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looks questionable", consider specifying why it appears doubtful. Providing context strengthens your argument and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "looks questionable" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated terms like "appears dubious" or "is subject to scrutiny" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks questionable" primarily functions as a subject complement. It describes the state or quality of a subject, indicating that something appears doubtful or suspicious. Ludwig shows numerous examples where it modifies nouns or noun phrases, expressing a sense of uncertainty or dubiousness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looks questionable" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to express doubt or uncertainty about something. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or scientific writing. Remember to provide context when using this phrase to enhance clarity. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and widespread use across diverse sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems dubious

Changes the verb from "looks" to "seems" and uses the adjective "dubious" for a slightly stronger sense of doubt.

appears unreliable

Replaces "looks questionable" with "appears unreliable", emphasizing the lack of trustworthiness.

raises doubts

Uses a verb phrase to express the action of causing doubt, rather than describing a state of being.

casts suspicion

Emphasizes the act of causing suspicion or mistrust.

is open to doubt

Indicates that something is not certain and can be questioned.

gives cause for concern

Focuses on the worrying aspect of something that may not be right.

is subject to scrutiny

Highlights that something needs to be examined closely because it may have problems.

is of uncertain validity

Emphasizes uncertainty regarding the correctness or truth of something.

smacks of impropriety

Suggests unethical or inappropriate behavior is suspected.

doesn't quite add up

An idiomatic expression indicating that something seems illogical or inconsistent.

FAQs

What does "looks questionable" mean?

The phrase "looks questionable" suggests that something appears doubtful, unreliable, or suspicious. It indicates that there is reason to believe something may not be accurate or valid.

How can I use "looks questionable" in a sentence?

You can use "looks questionable" to express doubt or uncertainty about something. For example: "The data in the report "looks questionable" after further analysis."

What can I say instead of "looks questionable"?

You can use alternatives like "seems dubious", "appears unreliable", or "raises doubts" depending on the context.

Is "looks questionable" formal or informal?

The phrase "looks questionable" is generally considered neutral and can be used in many contexts. However, in highly formal writing, alternatives like "is subject to scrutiny" or "is of uncertain validity" might be more appropriate.