questionable hypotheses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "questionable hypotheses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing theories or ideas that lack sufficient evidence or are open to doubt. Example: "The researchers presented several questionable hypotheses that required further investigation before any conclusions could be drawn."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These apprehensions are common among many scientists, partly driven by publications like Kiriakidou et al[ 1], where misapplication of powerful computational methods yields questionable hypotheses that lead to incorrect conclusions.

Biology Direct

Finally, such estimates, which have the merit of integrating the effects of evolutionary forces over longer time scales than direct approaches, rely on the questionable hypotheses that dispersal is stable over time and that the migration drift equilibrium has been reached.

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

(A questionable hypothesis, considering he needs 300 cars to guarantee at least 57 are plugged in at the right time).

Forbes

We are aware that this is a strong and maybe questionable hypothesis.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Establishing the statistical significance of a network property, mediated through a common, yet inappropriate reference frame, may result in the erroneous detection of significant properties, leading to questionable biological hypotheses.

Bioinformatics

But to test out a questionable social hypothesis, proposed and enacted by older people who would no doubt find an excuse to themselves be exempted?

The New York Times

A re-evaluation of the various components of acid base balance made highly questionable the hypothesis that bone alkali mobilisation is an important process in maintaining a stable low level of serum bicarbonate in chronic metabolic acidosis.

British Journal of Nutrition

In summary, it is questionable whether the hypotheses related to the toxicity of oligomeres or protofibrils address the key issues leading to neurodegeneration.

Acta Neuropathologica

Question questionable sources.

WikiHow

However questionable or believable the hypotheses in Room 237, it has to add to the penetrating legacy of Stanley's films, which encourage thinking and hopefully, multi-level filmmaking.

Huffington Post

The current approach of modeling drugs to minimize "uncoupling" on the basis of erstwhile hypothesis stands questionable, considering the ideas brought forth in this work.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "questionable hypotheses", ensure you provide context as to why the hypotheses are considered questionable. This adds credibility to your analysis and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "questionable hypotheses" to definitively dismiss an idea outright. Instead, frame it as requiring further investigation or lacking sufficient support at the current time. It allows room for future evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "questionable hypotheses" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "questionable" modifies the noun "hypotheses". It describes hypotheses that are doubtful, uncertain, or lack sufficient supporting evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "questionable hypotheses" is a noun phrase used to describe theories or claims that are doubtful or lack sufficient support. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in English, although its frequency is relatively rare. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, the phrase serves to express skepticism and prompts further investigation. When employing this phrase, providing context as to why the hypotheses are questionable is crucial. Alternatives such as "dubious theories" or "tenuous assumptions" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious theories

Replaces "hypotheses" with "theories" and "questionable" with "dubious", suggesting a stronger sense of doubt.

tenuous assumptions

Substitutes "questionable" with "tenuous" and "hypotheses" with "assumptions", indicating a lack of a firm basis.

unsubstantiated claims

Replaces "hypotheses" with "claims" and "questionable" with "unsubstantiated", emphasizing a lack of supporting evidence.

controversial propositions

Uses "controversial" to replace "questionable", highlighting the divisive nature of the "propositions".

debatable premises

Emphasizes the uncertainty of the "premises" by describing them as "debatable" instead of "questionable hypotheses".

speculative theories

Suggests that the "theories" are based on conjecture rather than solid evidence.

weakened arguments

Implies that the arguments lack the strength to make their conclusions reliable.

shaky foundations

Focuses on the insufficient basis that makes the hypotheses questionable.

unproven assumptions

Highlights that the assumptions have not been proven or verified, which make them questionable.

unreliable conjectures

Conjectures are uncertain or speculative and this is emphasized by qualifying them as unreliable.

FAQs

How can I use "questionable hypotheses" in a sentence?

You can use "questionable hypotheses" to describe theories that lack strong evidence. For example: "The study presented several "questionable hypotheses" that need further investigation."

What are some alternatives to "questionable hypotheses"?

Alternatives include "dubious theories", "tenuous assumptions", or "unsubstantiated claims". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "questionable hypotheses" in formal writing?

Yes, it's acceptable in formal writing, especially in academic or scientific contexts. However, be sure to provide context and explain why the hypotheses are considered questionable.

What makes a hypothesis "questionable"?

A hypothesis may be considered "questionable" if it lacks empirical support, contradicts existing evidence, relies on flawed reasoning, or is based on "unreliable data".