plausibly true

USAGE SUMMARY

"plausibly true" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing something that seems reasonable or believable based on available evidence. An example: "The theory is plausibly true given the recent findings." Alternative expressions include "believably true" and "reasonably true."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The weakness of this line of criticism is its inability to isolate a notion of cause that is both plausible and plausibly true of hierarchical but not genic level models.

SEP

That is plausibly true of President Obama, but not of the Republican Party, which long ago decided that this administration's failure was its only worthy goal.

The New York Times

That entails the conclusion, but is not plausibly true.

SEP

The antecedent is plausibly true, for there could have been more objects than the actual ones.

SEP

The antecedent is plausibly true, for any one of us, actual people, could have failed to exist.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The length of the repeat region has been shown to influence exposure of the S. aureus SDR proteins on cell surface [ 30], and the same may plausibly hold true for alpha-BAPs.

BMC Genomics

Or perhaps, more plausibly, both are true.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since this is false, its negation is true (plausibly), and hence, by application of a De Morgan law, "not-possibly not-P and not-not-possibly not-P" follows, which is a contradiction.

SEP

The probability that this happens by accident is equal to the statistical significance threshold (i.e., 5%) and plausible plausibly larger than the probability that we detect one of the relatively rare true causal relations.

SEP

Yet Henry's belief is plausibly viewed as being true merely because of luck.

SEP

However, in these cases, the pH dependence may be plausibly attributed to a true protonic equilibrium due to the protonation of the hydroxide ligand at acidic pH values, leading presumably to a water-bound state.

Chemical Reviews

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plausibly true" when you want to convey that something is believable and likely based on the available evidence, but without asserting absolute certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "plausibly true" when stronger evidence warrants a more definitive statement. Using it inappropriately can weaken your argument if the situation calls for a more assertive tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plausibly true" functions as a qualifier, modifying a statement to indicate that it is believable and likely to be correct based on available evidence. It acknowledges a degree of uncertainty while suggesting a reasonable likelihood of truth. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "plausibly true" is a grammatically correct and semantically valid expression used to indicate a statement that is believable and likely, though not definitively proven. Its occurrence is relatively rare but appears consistently across reputable sources. As Ludwig AI shows, contexts span science and news, reflecting its use in conveying informed but uncertain assertions. Remember to employ it when you aim to convey credibility without overstating certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probably correct

Indicates a strong likelihood of being without error.

likely accurate

Focuses on the probability of accuracy, suggesting a high chance of being correct.

credibly accurate

This alternative emphasizes the trustworthiness and correctness of the information.

reasonably accurate

Highlights that the accuracy is to a degree that is acceptable.

believably factual

This highlights the factual nature of the statement, suggesting it's presented in a believable way.

feasibly accurate

Emphasizes that the accuracy is within the realm of possibility and practicality.

conceivably true

Suggests that something could be true based on available information.

apparently valid

This implies validity based on initial impressions or evidence.

ostensibly correct

Suggests correctness is claimed or appears so, but might not be ultimately true.

arguably true

Indicates that the truth can be argued for, though it might not be definitively proven.

FAQs

How can I use "plausibly true" in a sentence?

You can use "plausibly true" to describe a statement or theory that seems likely to be correct based on the available evidence. For example: "The hypothesis is plausibly true given the preliminary data."

What are some alternatives to "plausibly true"?

Alternatives include "credibly accurate", "likely accurate", or "probably correct". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "plausibly true" or "possibly true"?

"Plausibly true" suggests a higher degree of likelihood and supporting evidence than "possibly true". "Plausibly true" indicates that there are reasons to believe it is true, while "possibly true" simply means it is not impossible.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "plausibly true" in academic writing?

Use "plausibly true" in academic writing when presenting a hypothesis or interpretation that aligns with current understanding, but requires further investigation or evidence to be definitively proven. It's useful for acknowledging uncertainty while still presenting a reasonable position.