not very convincing

USAGE SUMMARY

'not very convincing' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you are expressing doubt or disbelief about something that someone has said or done. For example, "His explanation of why he was late was not very convincing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's not very convincing".

The New York Times - Tech

Not very convincing.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jones is not very convincing.

The Guardian

It is not very convincing".

The Guardian

This objection, though, is not very convincing.

The Economist

But the alternative was not very convincing.

The Guardian

But it was not very convincing.

The Guardian

2. The evidence is not very convincing that polls break toward the challenger otherwise.

The New York Times

(One not very convincing theme of the film is Beijing incorruptibility versus Hong Kong decadence).

The New York Times

The initial arguments that I received from Universal were not very convincing.

The New York Times

But he's not very convincing, and is soon exposed, arrested, and tried.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not very convincing" to express a mild form of disagreement or skepticism without being overly harsh. It's suitable for professional and academic contexts where tact is important.

Common error

While versatile, repeatedly using "not very convincing" in highly formal writing can appear monotonous. Vary your language with synonyms like "unpersuasive" or "implausible" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very convincing" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to express a lack of credibility or persuasiveness. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

22%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not very convincing" is a commonly used adjectival phrase to express doubt or skepticism. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various domains, particularly in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts. While grammatically correct and versatile, it's important to consider the specific context when using this phrase. In highly formal settings, more specific alternatives like "implausible" or "unsubstantiated" may be more appropriate. Understanding its nuanced implications and employing synonyms judiciously can significantly enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

falls short of convincing

Emphasizes that the attempt to convince was unsuccessful.

not particularly compelling

Replaces "convincing" with "compelling" and "very" with "particularly", softening the criticism.

lacks persuasiveness

Highlights the absence of persuasive qualities in the subject.

unpersuasive

Single word replacing the multi-word expression, focusing on the lack of persuasiveness.

scarcely credible

Uses stronger vocabulary to indicate a significant lack of believability.

dubious

A shorter, more direct way of expressing skepticism or disbelief.

hard to believe

Shifts the focus from the argument's quality to the listener's difficulty in accepting it.

raises doubts

Focuses on the effect of the argument—creating uncertainty—rather than its inherent quality.

flimsy argument

Describes the argument itself as weak and easily refuted.

doesn't hold water

An idiomatic expression indicating that an argument is flawed and unsustainable.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not very convincing" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "unpersuasive", "implausible", or "lacking credibility" for a more professional tone.

What's a more direct way to say "not very convincing"?

For a more direct approach, you could use "dubious", "questionable", or simply state that something is "unbelievable".

Is "not very convincing" suitable for academic writing?

While acceptable, it might be beneficial to opt for stronger, more specific language in academic writing. For example, instead of "not very convincing", you could say "the evidence is "inconclusive"" or "the argument is "unsubstantiated"".

What are some idiomatic alternatives to "not very convincing"?

Several idioms can convey a similar meaning, such as "doesn't "hold water"", "fishy", or "rings hollow", though these are generally more informal.