possibly flawed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possibly flawed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that may have errors or imperfections, often in a speculative context. Example: "The research findings are possibly flawed due to the small sample size."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

When examined closely, its findings seemed incoherent and possibly flawed.

The Washington Post

Possibly flawed, but never coerced, it should be a valued, curricular option.

The New York Times

And so it is with the greatest reluctance – it feels like sacrilege, in fact – that I tempt fate by pointing out that no Jewish person has been killed in Britain in an anti-semitic attack since … well, my possibly flawed internet researches find no fatality on record at all.

Independent

"What marks all the best work Lemmon has done are some trace elements of the man himself, some perceived truth that as clown or tragic figure, the persona within the character is likable, decent, intelligent, vulnerable, worth knowing; disorganised possibly, flawed almost certainly, but forever worth knowing," was the assessment of the Los Angeles Times film writer, Charles Champlin.

The Guardian

This may result in a possibly flawed detection by the optical flow.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The premise of comparing discharge institution to admission source within HES as a surrogate for functional dependency is possibly flawed.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Agriculture Department officials acknowledged that their data were incomplete, possibly even flawed.

The New York Times

In some cases, interventions will fail because they're fundamentally flawed, possibly because what worked in a carefully controlled lab environment gets washed out by the noise of the real world, or possibly because the intervention simply doesn't work in a given context.

Huffington Post

These are very strong and ambitious objectives, and possibly ab initio flawed by the phenomenological (but otherwise legitimate) approach chosen.

F1000Research

Nuclear critics are rounding on proponents of the giant Hinkley project – arguing that it has been negotiated in secret, is technically flawed and possibly unbuildable, and will condemn Britain to centuries of massive, unnecessary costs.

The Guardian

"I thought, 'I'll be this paragon of virtue, and I'll be the one on the side of justice trying to take these bootleggers down.' Of course by the end of it my character turns out to be deeply flawed and possibly going insane.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "possibly flawed", ensure the context allows for speculation and uncertainty. Avoid using it when you have definitive proof of a flaw.

Common error

Avoid using "possibly flawed" when the defect or error is already confirmed. Instead, use stronger terms like "defective" or "erroneous" to reflect the known issue.

Linguistic Context

Adverb-adjective combination indicating a degree of uncertainty about the presence of a flaw. Ludwig AI shows the phrase used to qualify potentially incorrect data, intelligence or decisions. It adds a layer of hedging, suggesting the speaker is not entirely certain about the flaw's existence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "possibly flawed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that introduces uncertainty about an imperfection. Ludwig AI identifies its usage across news, scientific, and general contexts, revealing its broad applicability. Employed to soften assertions, "possibly flawed" allows a speaker or writer to voice doubt without definitive evidence. Alternatives such as "potentially defective" or "arguably deficient" offer subtle variations in emphasis. As a writing tip, it is important to remember to avoid using the phrase when the imperfection is already confirmed, in which case it's preferable to use a stronger statement that shows certainty. Therefore, the user guidance aims at helping choose better words in terms of the user context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potentially defective

Emphasizes the potential for a functional or structural defect.

possibly imperfect

Focuses on the lack of perfection or completeness.

potentially erroneous

Highlights the possibility of containing errors or inaccuracies.

arguably deficient

Suggests the presence of a deficiency that can be debated.

conceivably unsound

Implies a doubt about the reliability or validity of something.

perhaps not flawless

Emphasizes the lack of absolute perfection; a softer phrasing.

subject to errors

Highlights that errors are likely to occur.

may contain inaccuracies

Directly addresses the existence of inaccuracies.

could be problematic

Focuses on potential issues or difficulties caused by the flaw.

not entirely accurate

Suggests partial inaccuracy or incompleteness.

FAQs

How can I use "possibly flawed" in a sentence?

You can use "possibly flawed" to express uncertainty about the integrity or correctness of something, as in "The data is "possibly flawed" due to the small sample size".

What are some alternatives to "possibly flawed"?

Alternatives include "potentially defective", "potentially erroneous", or "may contain inaccuracies", depending on the specific context.

Is "possibly flawed" a formal or informal expression?

"Possibly flawed" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "arguably deficient" for added precision.

What's the difference between "possibly flawed" and "definitely flawed"?

"Possibly flawed" implies uncertainty, while "definitely flawed" indicates a confirmed defect. Use "possibly" when you suspect a flaw but lack conclusive evidence and "definitely" when the flaw is known.