ounce of doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

"ounce of doubt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to denote a very small amount of doubt or uncertainty. For example, "Despite minor issues, I had no ounce of doubt that the project would be a success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"There was not an ounce of doubt in my mind about it," he told me.

The New Yorker

"There's not one ounce of doubt about what I've done," insisted his owner.

BBC

If you get home one evening and realize you have a stack of Post-its in your bag that you could really use to leave notes for the babysitter, you're probably not going to raise any eyebrows (or suspicion), but if there's ever an ounce of doubt about what you're taking — on purpose or otherwise — the only answer is not to do it.

Forbes

I don't want to let even an ounce of doubt come out of my mouth.

Vice

Dave Roberts made the declaration with conviction, not an ounce of doubt in his voice, Sunday morning: Corey Seager, the Dodgers' All-Star shortstop who hasn't played since undergoing elbow ligament-replacement surgery in May, will play on opening day.

Los Angeles Times

If you had even an ounce of doubt, you are most likely going to lose her.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"If we have one ounce of self doubt or apathy, things are not gonna change".

Vice

Pamela Campos LatinasThinkBigg @NewLatina Pam's talk gave everyone listening permission to own the room, to KNOW you belong and to act powerfully, without an ounce of self-doubt.

Huffington Post

"I looked around the locker room, and there was not one ounce of panic or doubt," Teel said of the Rutgers players at halftime.

The New York Times - Sports

But during all of these medical procedures, she and my dad rarely showed an ounce of weakness or doubt that she wouldn't heal and get better.

Huffington Post

"I've always been told that I'm sexy," Honor Blackman says without an ounce of false modesty or doubt.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ounce of doubt" to emphasize the near absence of uncertainty, strengthening your statement's conviction. For example, "Despite the challenges, there wasn't an "ounce of doubt" in her mind that she would succeed".

Common error

Avoid using "ounce of doubt" when there is substantial uncertainty or conflicting information. This phrase is best suited for scenarios where doubt is minimal or almost non-existent. Overusing it can weaken your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ounce of doubt" functions as a noun phrase that quantifies the degree of uncertainty. According to Ludwig AI, it expresses a very small or minimal amount of doubt. This is reflected in the examples provided, where it often appears in contexts denying any significant uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ounce of doubt" is a noun phrase used to express the near absence of uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and conveys a very small amount of doubt. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki sources, reflecting a neutral register. When aiming to emphasize conviction, consider using "ounce of doubt" to underscore the minimal level of uncertainty. Remember to use it correctly and keep in mind suitable alternative phrases like "shred of doubt" or "hint of doubt" for similar effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drip of doubt

Replaces "ounce" with "drip", suggesting a very minimal and almost unnoticeable level of doubt.

shred of doubt

Substitutes "ounce" with "shred", emphasizing a small, fragmented piece of doubt.

modicum of doubt

Uses "modicum" to replace "ounce", indicating a small quantity or degree of doubt in a more formal manner.

bit of doubt

Employs "bit" instead of "ounce", offering a simpler and more common way to express a small amount of doubt.

iota of doubt

Replaces "ounce" with "iota", highlighting an extremely small, almost negligible amount of doubt.

hint of doubt

Uses "hint" instead of "ounce", suggesting a subtle or indirect indication of doubt.

drop of doubt

Similar to "drip of doubt", "drop of doubt" suggests a very small and insignificant amount of doubt.

evidence of doubt

Shifts the focus to the presence of evidence suggesting doubt, rather than the quantity of doubt itself.

shadow of a doubt

Indicates any presence of uncertainty

grain of doubt

Replaces "ounce" with "grain", implying an extremely small and almost imperceptible amount of doubt.

FAQs

How can I use "ounce of doubt" in a sentence?

The phrase "ounce of doubt" is used to express a very small amount of uncertainty. For example, you might say, "Despite the risks, I didn't have an "ounce of doubt" that we would succeed", to convey complete conviction.

What phrases are similar to "ounce of doubt"?

Alternatives to "ounce of doubt" include "shred of doubt", "hint of doubt", or "iota of doubt", each suggesting a minimal level of uncertainty.

Is it correct to say "an ounce of doubts" instead of "an ounce of doubt"?

No, the correct form is "an ounce of doubt". "Doubt" is typically used as an uncountable noun in this context, so it does not take a plural form.

What's the difference between "an ounce of doubt" and "a shadow of a doubt"?

"An ounce of doubt" refers to a very small amount of uncertainty, while "a shadow of a doubt" often suggests any presence of uncertainty, regardless of how small.