questionable accuracy

USAGE SUMMARY

"questionable accuracy" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing data, information, or sources that may not be reliable or precise. Example: The report was criticized for its questionable accuracy regarding the statistics presented. Alternative expressions include "dubious accuracy" and "uncertain accuracy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Furthermore, although Kidd made assertions on the night of the shooting of "questionable" accuracy, the report says "he properly clarified any ambiguities or questions concerning what he did and did not observe".

The Guardian

Current rankings are based on unaudited data of questionable accuracy.

The New York Times

Mr. Siebert's list, sometimes of questionable accuracy but a valuable starting point, is on the Menare Web site.

The New York Times - Tech

Stop concentrating resources in elite institutions that (with questionable accuracy) award admission to those whom they deem deserving.

The New York Times

The algorithms driving the prices it generates are based on old pricing models that are of questionable accuracy.

The New York Times

Rawnsley writes with an intimacy that analysts of the old school would avoid, because of its questionable accuracy.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

And while the tone was certainly questionable, the accuracy was not.

Los Angeles Times

It's a small marker that labels certain articles as "disputed news," indicating that the content within the article is questionable in accuracy or reliability.

Huffington Post

Despite the extensive amount of disability data collected, much of the data are of questionable quality, accuracy, and completeness.

Unicef

It remains questionable the accuracy of the role of these three FZD potentially dependent pathways in human HCC.

British Journal of Cancer

Records of questionable taxonomic accuracy should be used with caution in ecological studies (Jimenez-Valverde et al. 2010).

AoB PLANTS

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place it after the verb 'be' for a direct observation (e.g., 'the data is of "questionable accuracy"') or as an attributive adjective to categorize a source (e.g., 'a report of "questionable accuracy"').

Common error

Do not use 'potentially' or 'possibly' before this phrase. Since 'questionable' already indicates a lack of certainty, adding extra hedge words weakens the impact of your critique.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "questionable accuracy" functions as a complex noun phrase or an adjectival construction depending on its placement. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used as the object of a preposition (e.g., 'of "questionable accuracy"') to modify a preceding noun. Ludwig AI identifies it as a highly productive way to introduce skepticism into technical descriptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "questionable accuracy" is a robust and sophisticated phrase used primarily in Science and News & Media contexts to indicate doubt about the precision of information. Ludwig AI confirms that it is most effective when used to describe data, reporting, or specific measurements that lack independent verification. It is considered a standard formal expression, making it an excellent choice for academic papers, technical reports and investigative journalism where nuanced skepticism is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious accuracy

Suggests a slightly stronger suspicion of error or intentional misrepresentation

questionable reliability

Focuses more on the consistency and trustworthiness of the source rather than just the result

uncertain accuracy

Provides a more neutral tone, implying a simple lack of verification

disputable accuracy

Suggests that the data is open to challenge or argument

suspect accuracy

Implies that the errors might be expected or predictable

suspect veracity

A more formal and pointed way to question the truthfulness of a claim

questionable validity

Broadens the scope to question whether the measurement measures what it claims to

debatable precision

Focuses specifically on the exactness or detail level of the data

unverified accuracy

Implies the data has not yet been audited or confirmed

impaired accuracy

Indicates that something has negatively affected the precision of the result

FAQs

How to use "questionable accuracy" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe data or reports that may not be correct, such as: "The findings were based on a survey of "questionable accuracy"."

What can I say instead of "questionable accuracy"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "dubious accuracy", "uncertain precision" or "unreliable data".

Is "questionable accuracy" formal enough for a research paper?

Yes, it is a very common phrase in academic literature. Ludwig shows dozens of examples from sources like PubMed and ScienceDirect where researchers use it to critique previous studies or methodology.

What is the difference between "questionable accuracy" and "dubious accuracy"?

While both imply doubt, "dubious accuracy" often carries a stronger connotation of suspicion or potential falsehood, whereas "questionable accuracy" is a more standard way to note that precision has not been confirmed.