prima facie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prima facie" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that something is accepted as true until proven otherwise. Example: "The evidence presented was prima facie sufficient to support the claim of negligence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not, prima facie, a canon.

The New Yorker

But it seems, prima facie, unlikely.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Prima Facie Evidence by Third-Party Documents.

Cornell University

That seems prima facie reasonable: Art.

Columbia University

Both tradeoffs are prima facie plausible.

Harvard University

An acquaintance's parents consider the paper "prima facie anti-Semitic".

The New York Times

Did the paper have prima facie evidence of wrongdoing?

The Guardian

Nonuse for two consecutive years shall be prima facie abandonment.

Cornell University

It is no mere prima facie presumption of fact.

Cornell University

But it cannot be deemed prima facie void.

Cornell University

He acquires but prima facie status, if that.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prima facie", ensure that you are prepared to present evidence or arguments that support the initial assertion, as it implies an openness to counter-evidence.

Common error

Avoid treating a "prima facie" case as an absolute truth. Remember, it only establishes a presumption that can be overturned by contradictory evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prima facie" functions as an adverb or adjective, modifying a verb or noun to indicate that something is accepted as correct until proven otherwise. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

31%

Science

37%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prima facie" is a commonly used phrase that functions as an adjective or adverb, indicating something is accepted as correct until proven otherwise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in legal, academic, scientific and news contexts. While grammatically correct, remember that a "prima facie" case is not an absolute truth but rather a preliminary assessment subject to further scrutiny. Consider alternatives like "at first glance" or "on the surface" to avoid sounding overly formal in certain contexts. Always be prepared to support "prima facie" assertions with evidence, and acknowledge the possibility of counter-evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first glance

This alternative emphasizes the initial impression or observation, focusing on a superficial assessment.

on the surface

Similar to "at first glance", this highlights an assessment based on readily apparent information without deeper analysis.

on the face of it

This phrase suggests an initial appearance that may or may not be accurate upon closer examination.

ostensibly

This indicates something appears to be true but might be different upon investigation.

apparently

This suggests something seems to be true based on the available evidence, but it's not a definitive conclusion.

seemingly

This indicates that something appears a certain way, but there could be underlying differences.

to all appearances

This phrase highlights that based on what can be observed, something appears to be the case.

as far as one can see

This implies a judgment is made based on the accessible information, acknowledging potential limitations.

from what one can tell

This suggests the assessment is based on the available information, recognizing possible unseen elements.

by all accounts

This phrase indicates a belief based on multiple reports or perspectives, without necessarily implying absolute certainty.

FAQs

How to use "prima facie" in a sentence?

You can use "prima facie" to indicate that something seems to be true based on initial evidence, but further investigation may be needed. For example, "The evidence presented was "prima facie" sufficient to support the claim."

What can I say instead of "prima facie"?

You can use alternatives like "at first glance", "on the surface", or "apparently" depending on the context.

Is "prima facie" a legal term?

Yes, "prima facie" is commonly used in legal contexts to describe evidence that is sufficient to prove a case unless rebutted. However, it's also used in other fields to denote something that appears true initially.

What's the difference between "prima facie" and "in my opinion"?

"Prima facie" implies that there is some evidence supporting a claim, while "in my opinion" simply expresses a personal belief without necessarily providing supporting evidence. "Prima facie" suggests a starting point for investigation, while "in my opinion" is a subjective viewpoint.