not borne out

USAGE SUMMARY

"not borne out" is correct and usable in written English.
It mainly refers to proof or evidence not being found to support a claim. For example, "The claim that the company was mismanaging its finances was not borne out by the investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is not borne out in fact.

Independent

That's not borne out by the facts.

The Guardian

It's not borne out by the data.

The Guardian - Tech

It's not borne out by any facts.

The New York Times

Such a conclusion is not borne out by the facts.

The New York Times

This is not borne out by the evidence.

The Guardian

It is not borne out by the facts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Owens's grumbling was not borne out by statistics.

The New York Times - Sports

This is simply not borne out by the facts".

The Guardian

Even if the shriller claims were not borne out, a good deal of the mud stuck.

The Economist

But this is a journalistic commonplace not borne out by opinion polls.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not borne out" when you want to express that an expectation, theory, or prediction has not been supported by the facts or evidence. It implies a contrast between what was thought to be true and what has actually been observed.

Common error

Avoid using "not borne out" interchangeably with phrases like "not proven". "Not borne out" suggests a failure of an expectation to materialize, while "not proven" simply indicates a lack of conclusive evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not borne out" functions as a predicate adjective, indicating that a preceding noun or idea lacks support from evidence or facts. It describes a state of disconfirmation, as evidenced by the Ludwig examples where theories or assumptions are shown to be unsupported.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

44%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not borne out" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something is not supported by evidence or facts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and scientific reporting. When writing, consider alternatives like "not supported by evidence" for clarity, and avoid confusing it with simply "not proven". Remember that "not borne out" implies a failed expectation rather than a mere lack of proof. Its frequent use in authoritative sources highlights its reliability in formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not supported by evidence

Directly replaces the idiom with a literal description of the concept.

not confirmed by data

Focuses on data as the source of confirmation, suitable for scientific contexts.

not substantiated by facts

Emphasizes the lack of factual backing for a claim.

not validated by research

Specifically refers to research findings, ideal for academic or scientific writing.

not proven to be true

Replaces the idiom with a straightforward statement of truth.

not reflected in reality

Highlights the discrepancy between a claim and actual circumstances.

does not align with the evidence

Emphasizes a lack of alignment or agreement with available information.

the evidence contradicts

Presents a more direct contradiction between a claim and the evidence.

the data suggests otherwise

Hints at an alternative interpretation based on the available data.

the reality proves different

Directly contrasts a claim with the actual reality.

FAQs

What does "not borne out" mean?

The phrase "not borne out" means that something has not been supported or confirmed by facts, evidence, or reality. It suggests that an initial expectation, prediction, or claim has proven to be untrue or inaccurate.

How can I use "not borne out" in a sentence?

You can use "not borne out" to indicate that a hypothesis, assumption, or statement is not supported by available information. For example: "The initial predictions about the company's growth were "not borne out" by the actual financial results."

What are some alternatives to "not borne out"?

Alternatives to "not borne out" include phrases like "not supported by evidence", "not confirmed by data", or "not substantiated by facts". The best choice depends on the specific context and the type of evidence being discussed.

Is it better to say "not borne out by facts" or "not borne out by the facts"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "not borne out by the facts" is generally preferred. The addition of "the" implies a specific set of facts being considered, which is often the case when using this phrase. The phrase without "the" is less common.