not likely true

USAGE SUMMARY

"not likely true" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing doubt about the truth of a statement or claim. For example, "The rumor about the new policy is not likely true." Alternative expressions include "probably false" and "unlikely to be true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Blocking the enzyme in flies shows that's not likely true". He now wants to find out whether this enzyme and the molecule PEtOH also contribute to the sedative effect of alcohol.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Such large jumps in conductivity are, however, not likely for true Earth.

Earth, Planets and Space

Given Warhol's apolitical outlook in general this is not likely the true message.

Wikipedia

Although this measurement is not likely a true estimate of the tissue content of DA, it nevertheless indicates that DA was present at levels close to those measured in-vivo using microdialysis when corrected for probe recovery and depletion around the probe [19], [20].

Plosone

Only six P/A genes were found to be in the first category (not likely a true P/A).

BMC Genomics

All four procedures assume that the ingredient QPEs are unbiased, which is not likely to hold true in reality even if real-time bias correction is in operation.

Journal of Hydrology

Some corporate customers have been persuaded that such transparency will hurt them, but that is not likely to be true.

The New York Times

Directly contradicting Mr. Murdoch's statements, the executives told the committee that they informed him in 2008 that the company line — that phone hacking was the work of one "rogue reporter" — was not likely to be true.

The New York Times

Recently, Condoleezza Rice, head of the Commission on College Basketball, argued, "The corruption we observed in college basketball has its roots in youth basketball". Unfortunately, this is not likely to be true.

Forbes

A bold statement even if it's not likely to hold true; either way, all those wanna-be cord cutters out there should be paying attention.

TechCrunch

The court refused to dismiss the case outright, however, since the plaintiffs also accuse Omnicare of omitting information that would clue investors in to the fact the opinion was not likely to be true.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not likely true" when you want to express a moderate level of doubt without outright dismissing something as false. It's suitable when there's a possibility, however small, that the statement could be true.

Common error

Avoid using "not likely true" when you have concrete evidence to disprove something. In such cases, a more direct statement like "false" or "incorrect" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not likely true" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a qualified assessment of truthfulness. Ludwig shows it's often used to introduce doubt or skepticism regarding a claim. It softens a direct contradiction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not likely true" is a versatile expression used to convey doubt or skepticism regarding a statement's accuracy. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and acceptable across a range of contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. While not definitively denying a claim, it suggests a significant degree of disbelief. Alternative phrases like "probably false" or "unlikely to be the case" can be used, depending on the desired nuance. Use "not likely true" when expressing moderate doubt, and avoid it when you possess concrete evidence to the contrary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probably false

Directly states the likelihood of being untrue.

implausible

Indicates something is not believable or realistic.

unlikely to be the case

More formal way of expressing doubt about a situation's truth.

far from certain

Highlights the absence of certainty about the truth.

improbable

Single word conveying a lower probability of being true.

scarcely credible

Indicates a low level of believability.

dubious

Concise term implying uncertainty or suspicion about the truth.

hardly true

Emphasizes the lack of truth more strongly.

open to doubt

Suggests that the truth is not definitively established and is subject to questioning.

questionable veracity

Highlights doubts concerning the truthfulness or accuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "not likely true" in a sentence?

You can use "not likely true" to express doubt about a statement. For example, "The rumor about the new policy is "not likely true"".

What are some alternatives to "not likely true"?

Alternatives include "probably false", "unlikely to be the case", or "improbable", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "not likely true" or "untrue"?

"Not likely true" suggests a possibility of being true, while "untrue" means definitively false. The choice depends on the degree of certainty you want to convey.

What's the difference between "not likely true" and "potentially false"?

"Not likely true" indicates a stronger disbelief than "potentially false". "Potentially false" suggests it could be false, but "not likely true" leans more towards disbelief.