of questionable relevance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of questionable relevance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that may not be pertinent or applicable to the topic at hand. Example: "The research presented some findings that were of questionable relevance to our current study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

And even if, and it's a big if, some group, because of its value system, demands to know one thing or another of questionable relevance about a nominee, the media are not obligated to raise the question.

Huffington Post

Endless foreign-location sequences of questionable relevance that us increasingly impecunious dupes (licence-fee payers) are bankrolling.

The Guardian

Opponents of legalization often cite this fact, though it is of questionable relevance, since living donors in the U.S. are, statistically, as healthy after surgery as anybody else.

The New Yorker

The hack uncovered family photos and the addresses of Palin friends -- of questionable relevance to any public records violation, really -- as well as what looks like proof that Palin was indeed using personal e-mail for state business.

The Guardian

Mr. Guth is a favorite of those who favor directorial boldness, but of late his productions have subjugated not only the letter of an opera but also its spirit to arching concepts of questionable relevance.

The New York Times - Arts

He offers mostly lamentation, indignation and nostalgia, and does little either to diagnose our culture's gradual denigration of labour, or to argue against it, beyond serving up quotations of questionable relevance from Abraham Lincoln and Karol Wojtyla, a second-rate Catholic philosopher from Poland who was also a popular pope.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Therefore, experiments involving particles with sizes of ≤ 10 nm are of rather questionable relevance with respect to environmental health issues.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Due to measurement uncertainty, hsTnT levels at this level remain to be of clinically questionable relevance.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Thus, alum immunization is used in the study of asthma and allergy in animals, despite the questionable relevance of this adjuvant to the mechanism of allergen sensitization in humans (Eisenbarth, 2008).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Other limitations include a relatively small number of case children, the number of spurious results that arise from making many comparisons, and the questionable relevance of cross-sectional sampling after illness has developed, given the latency of the disease (Schulz and Grimes 2002).

Environmental Health Perspectives

There is debate about the definition of patent trolls, but the term broadly refers to people who sue companies for infringement, often using patents of dubious value or questionable relevance, and then hold on like a terrier until they get license fees.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "of questionable relevance", ensure the context clearly indicates why the item's relevance is being questioned. Providing a brief explanation will strengthen your argument and prevent ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "of questionable relevance" as a dismissive statement without providing any supporting reasoning. Always explain why something might not be relevant to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of questionable relevance" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to cast doubt on the pertinence or applicability of something, indicating that its connection to the subject at hand is uncertain or weak. This is supported by Ludwig examples where it's used to qualify information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "of questionable relevance" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that casts doubt on the pertinence or applicability of a particular subject. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals its presence in various contexts, primarily in science, news and media, and formal business settings, suggesting a neutral register. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is perfectly usable in written English. For alternative phrasing, consider "of doubtful pertinence" or "of dubious applicability". When employing the phrase, ensure you provide context to justify why the subject's relevance is being questioned.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of doubtful pertinence

Emphasizes the lack of a clear connection or importance to the topic.

of dubious applicability

Highlights uncertainty about whether something can be correctly applied to the situation.

of marginal significance

Suggests the item has very little importance or impact.

hardly germane

Indicates that something is not closely related to the subject being discussed.

scarcely applicable

Emphasizes the difficulty or infrequency with which something can be correctly used.

tangentially related

Implies a weak or indirect connection to the primary topic.

remotely connected

Suggests a distant or tenuous link.

somewhat irrelevant

Directly states the lack of importance or connection.

of uncertain bearing

Highlights the ambiguity of its impact or influence.

not particularly pertinent

Emphasizes a lack of specific or useful connection.

FAQs

How can I use "of questionable relevance" in a sentence?

You can use "of questionable relevance" to describe information, details, or arguments that may not be pertinent or applicable to a specific situation or topic. For example, "The witness's testimony included details "of questionable relevance" to the case."

What are some alternatives to "of questionable relevance"?

Alternatives include phrases like "of doubtful pertinence", "of dubious applicability", or "of marginal significance", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "of questionable relevance" or "irrelevant"?

"Of questionable relevance" suggests that something's pertinence is uncertain or debated, while "irrelevant" directly states that something has no bearing on the topic. The choice depends on whether you want to express uncertainty or make a definitive statement.

What's the difference between "of questionable relevance" and "of limited value"?

"Of questionable relevance" indicates doubt about the applicability or pertinence of something, whereas "of limited value" suggests that something may be applicable but lacks significance or importance. The focus shifts from pertinence to the degree of usefulness or impact.