poorly supported

USAGE SUMMARY

"poorly supported" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing something that has not been given enough resources to be successful, or when something has been provided with little evidence or proof. For example, "The politician's argument was poorly supported and did not convince the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Phylogenies often contain both well-supported and poorly supported nodes.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The tone is rasping, thin and, in general, poorly supported.

The New York Times - Arts

The essay was cryptic and poorly supported by empirical evidence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And yet here in the United States, the Peace Corps remains misunderstood and poorly supported.

The New Yorker

The report presenting that warning was dismissed by the board as politically motivated and poorly supported.

The New York Times

Yet, teachers and educators are too often undervalued, inadequately trained, and poorly supported.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It does no good to say that we find the consensus conclusions poorly supported.

The New York Times

Detailed analyses suggest that adding incomplete genes is especially helpful for resolving poorly supported nodes.

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

But to date, collaborative sleep research is poorly supported by IT systems.

Future Generation Computer Systems

Board of Education officials blasted the report yesterday, saying its genesis was politically motivated and its conclusions were poorly supported.

The New York Times

On Jan . 17 Mr. Li was knocked unconscious when a poorly supported ceiling in the mine collapsed on him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poorly supported", ensure you specify what lacks support. For example, instead of just stating "the argument is poorly supported", clarify "the argument is poorly supported by empirical evidence".

Common error

Avoid using "poorly supported" without context. Saying "the project is poorly supported" is vague. Instead, specify whether it lacks financial, logistical, or public support to give the statement more impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly supported" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a lack of adequate backing, justification, or resources. Ludwig provides examples across various domains illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "poorly supported" is a versatile term used across multiple domains to indicate a lack of adequate backing or justification for a claim, idea, or project. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its frequency in scientific and news contexts suggests its importance in critical analysis and evaluation. When employing this phrase, clarity is crucial; specifying what exactly lacks support enhances the statement's impact. While alternatives exist, ""poorly supported"" remains a standard and effective choice in formal and informal communication. As illustrated by Ludwig's examples, the phrase is widely accepted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking sufficient evidence

Focuses specifically on the absence of adequate proof or data.

weakly substantiated

Emphasizes the feebleness or inadequacy of the provided support.

inadequately funded

Highlights the insufficient financial resources allocated.

under-resourced

Emphasizes the lack of necessary resources beyond just financial aspects.

tenuously argued

Points to the fragility and unconvincing nature of the argument itself.

unconvincingly demonstrated

Highlights that the demonstration or proof is not persuasive.

scantily documented

Focuses on the lack of thorough or complete documentation.

frailly constructed

Emphasizes weakness in the underlying structure or framework.

barely sustained

Suggests that the support is minimal and could easily collapse.

meagerly backed

Highlights the limited amount of backing or endorsement.

FAQs

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

You can use "poorly supported" to describe something that lacks adequate evidence, funding, or resources. For example, "The claim that vaccines cause autism is "poorly supported" by scientific research."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "poorly supported"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "lacking sufficient evidence", "weakly substantiated", or "inadequately funded".

Which is correct, "poorly supported" or "badly supported"?

"Poorly supported" is generally preferred over "badly supported" as it is more formal and commonly used in academic and professional contexts. While "badly supported" isn't grammatically incorrect, ""poorly supported"" is more widely accepted.

What does it mean when something is described as "poorly supported" in scientific research?

In scientific research, ""poorly supported"" means that there is a lack of robust evidence, data, or experimental results to validate a hypothesis, theory, or claim. This often indicates the need for further investigation.