mere evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"mere evidence" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the minimal impact or strength of a given piece of evidence. For example, "His testimony was mere evidence; it was not enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A woman may not be enticed by mere evidence of transportation and a few small bills.

The New Yorker

She and her colleagues "don't view uses of their imagery as exploitative, but mere evidence of participation," she said in an e-mail message.

The New York Times - Sports

But the truth is that our minds just aren't set up to be changed by mere evidence and argument presented by a 'stranger.'stranger

The New York Times - Magazine

But to demote these strange, beautiful pictures to mere evidence of a desire to be not of this earth is to strip them of their power as works of art.

The New Yorker

The thinktanks, some of whose own workforces need to better reflect cultural diversity, must shift from regarding black and Asian people as mere evidence material to treating them as equal partners with robust opportunities to put forward challenging and different perspectives in research and policy development.

The Guardian

Others have taken the variety of category systems explicitly offered or presupposed by philosophers as mere evidence of the particular presuppositions of their thought, or prejudices of their age not as evidence about anything to do with the world and its divisions.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The blood-drenched corpses that were subsequently dragged onto the stage registered, by comparison, as mere clinical evidence.

The New York Times

This example is potentially misleading, in that Descartes appears loath to count mere empirical evidence as knowledge-worthy justification.

SEP

It feels like everytime someone mentions the Olympics I, and most people I talk to, respond with "oh yeah, that's happening soon, right?" It's not just mere anecdotal evidence as well, ticket sales are far down in comparison to the previous olympics, and the Korea Times reporting on a immense lack of both media and local buzz surrounding the games.

Vice

However, criticism of the extreme antics of the small minority of Christian conservatives in Korea has been taken as mere additional evidence of the perceived social persecution of Christians and Christianity in general.And when dressed up in the accoutrements of the one Pure Nation, Tradition, and her handmaidens, who can really disagree?

Huffington Post

(Note: There is no way to neutralize the evidential effect of a contrary as there is with mere counter-evidence).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mere evidence," consider contrasting it with stronger forms of evidence to highlight its inadequacy.

Common error

Avoid treating "mere evidence" as conclusive proof. The phrase itself indicates that the evidence is limited or insufficient for a strong assertion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mere evidence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "mere" modifies the noun "evidence". As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used to qualify or diminish the impact or importance of the evidence being presented.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mere evidence" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to suggest that the available evidence is limited, insufficient, or unconvincing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English to emphasize the minimal impact of a given piece of evidence. It appears frequently in News & Media and scientific contexts, with its primary function being to express doubt about the strength of available proof. When using this phrase, it's crucial to avoid overstating the evidence's strength and consider contrasting it with stronger forms of evidence to highlight its inadequacy. Alternatives such as "slight evidence" or "scant evidence" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight evidence

Emphasizes the small amount of evidence available.

scant evidence

Highlights the deficiency in the amount of evidence.

tenuous evidence

Stresses the weakness or fragility of the evidence.

flimsy evidence

Indicates that the evidence is not strong or convincing.

weak evidence

Focuses on the lack of strength or persuasiveness of the evidence.

limited evidence

Highlights the restricted quantity or scope of the evidence.

marginal evidence

Suggests that the evidence barely meets the minimum requirements.

circumstantial evidence

Implies that the evidence is indirect and requires inference.

inconclusive evidence

Indicates that the evidence does not lead to a definite conclusion.

preliminary evidence

Suggests the evidence is initial and may not be fully developed.

FAQs

How can "mere evidence" be used in a sentence?

You can use "mere evidence" to suggest that the available proof is not compelling enough. For example, "The prosecution's case relied on "circumstantial evidence", which was considered "mere evidence" by the jury".

What is a synonym for "mere evidence"?

Alternatives to "mere evidence" include "slight evidence", "scant evidence", or "tenuous evidence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "mere evidence" in formal writing?

Yes, "mere evidence" is suitable for formal writing when you need to express that the available proof is weak or unconvincing. The formality depends more on the surrounding context than the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "mere evidence" and "strong evidence"?

"Mere evidence" suggests that the proof is limited or inadequate, while "strong evidence" indicates that the proof is compelling and convincing. The key difference is the degree of persuasiveness.