poorly substantiated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorly substantiated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an argument, claim, or piece of information that lacks sufficient evidence or support. Example: "The report was criticized for its poorly substantiated claims regarding the effectiveness of the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Yet the benefits of contrast baths have been poorly substantiated.

Journal of Hand Therapy

Inaccurate and poorly substantiated editorial comments in the paper's introduction compound these methodological problems.

Vaccine

This variability in scarring has competing explanations that are poorly substantiated.

Forest Ecology and Management

Those poorly substantiated and shaky assertions should — and will — hit bookstores Jan . 5 four days earlier than scheduled.

The Washington Post

Pouring over those yellowing pages of archival newsprint, I discovered notable examples of blatant bias, misrepresentations of facts and poorly substantiated claims about particulars of acts of violence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet another example of a poorly substantiated health threat is the current scare about bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make certain plastics clear and shatterproof.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The poorly known model input parameters are substantiated with comparisons against measured dynamic characteristics of the fort, and the remaining uncertainties in the input parameters are propagated to the model output to obtain a probabilistic evaluation of the fort's behavior under various settlement scenarios.

Engineering Structures

Claims that daily human exposure to BPA is much higher from unknown sources by poorly defined path-ways are not substantiated.

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

More robust evidence has substantiated the beneficial effects of adding vildagliptin to patients whose diabetes is poorly controlled by metformin alone.

Core Evidence

Brooks instead conjures a poorly-substantiated accusation that Republicans share the Democrats' own overconfident attitude.

Huffington Post

You would expect him to balance this with an equally poorly-substantiated allegation that Republicans are too reticent in their use of government power.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poorly substantiated", ensure you can articulate why the evidence is lacking or weak. Providing specific examples strengthens your critique.

Common error

Avoid using "poorly substantiated" when there is no evidence at all. In such cases, phrases like "unsubstantiated" or "without evidence" are more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly substantiated" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something lacks sufficient evidence or support. Ludwig examples showcase its use in academic, news, and general contexts. Ludwig AI agrees that is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poorly substantiated" is a common and correct way to describe claims or arguments lacking sufficient evidence, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Appearing frequently in scientific and news contexts, it serves to express skepticism or criticism regarding the validity of information. While alternatives like "weakly supported" or "inadequately supported" exist, "poorly substantiated" precisely conveys that some evidence exists but is of low quality. Use it judiciously, ensuring you can articulate the specific weaknesses in the supporting evidence to strengthen your critique.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weakly supported

Focuses on the lack of support rather than the quality of evidence.

inadequately supported

Emphasizes the insufficient amount of support.

insufficiently proven

Highlights the lack of proof or verification.

tenuously argued

Suggests the argument is fragile and easily refuted.

flimsily justified

Implies the justification is weak and unconvincing.

scarcely demonstrated

Emphasizes the minimal evidence shown.

unconvincingly presented

Focuses on the manner of presentation rather than the evidence itself.

unreliably documented

Highlights issues with the documentation or record-keeping.

questionably validated

Suggests validation attempts are doubtful.

doubtfully established

Indicates uncertainty about the establishment of facts.

FAQs

How can I use "poorly substantiated" in a sentence?

You can use "poorly substantiated" to describe claims or arguments that lack sufficient evidence. For example: "The research paper's conclusions were based on "poorly substantiated" data." or "The politician's claims were "poorly substantiated" and widely criticized".

What is a good alternative to "poorly substantiated"?

Alternatives include "weakly supported", "inadequately supported", or "insufficiently proven", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "poorly substantiated" or "unsubstantiated"?

"Poorly substantiated" implies some evidence exists, but it's weak. "Unsubstantiated" means there's no evidence at all. The best choice depends on the situation.

What does "poorly substantiated" mean in the context of scientific research?

In scientific research, "poorly substantiated" indicates that the findings or conclusions are not adequately supported by the data or methodology used in the study. The claims lack solid evidence to back them up.