questionable reliability

USAGE SUMMARY

"questionable reliability" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unreliable or not completely trustworthy. Example: The information provided by that source is of questionable reliability, as they have been known to report false information in the past.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reliability analyses showed that the interview questionnaire comprised seven reliable scales (Cronbach's alpha 0.70-0.83), five scales with a questionable reliability that were provisionally accepted (alpha 0.64-0.69), and three factors that formed no reliable scale (alpha < 0.60).

BMC Health Services Research

Major depressive disorder, for instance, showed "questionable reliability".

The New York Times

This November, millions of voters will use electronic voting machines of questionable reliability.

The New York Times

However, this simple model leads to the numerical prediction and design with the questionable reliability.

Composites Part B: Engineering

The banking sector, which was crowded with small banks of questionable reliability, was recently consolidated to form about two dozen banks with stronger capitalization.

The New York Times

They cited the questionable reliability of the Afghan government and security forces, the steep costs of a larger involvement, and the advisability of any exit strategy.

The New York Times

First, sleep duration measures were identified that had questionable reliability and were possibly less accurate than other recommended sleep measurements.

Sleep Medicine

Generally considered inept as pope because of his greed, John, according to a contemporary account of questionable reliability, consented to be paid for recognizing the patriarch of Constantinople.

Britannica

When it becomes evident that some sources are of questionable reliability, the cartographer explains this in the margin of his compilation.

Britannica

Last year an industry publication, Fuel Cycle Week, explained that questionable reliability is one reason that the Energy Department has been having trouble selling the plutonium-based fuel.

The New York Times

Despite significant past research, such knowledge is currently inadequate and based on experimental data with questionable reliability, due mainly to the considerable challenges in testing early-age concrete.

Construction and Building Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "questionable reliability", clearly specify what aspect is unreliable and, if possible, provide evidence or reasons for your assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "questionable reliability" without providing specific context or justification. Simply stating that something has "questionable reliability" without further explanation can weaken your argument. Always aim to provide evidence or reasoning to support your assertion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "questionable reliability" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe the characteristic of something whose reliability is uncertain or doubtful. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in describing the reliability of sources, equipment, and methodologies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "questionable reliability" is a common and grammatically sound way to express doubt about the trustworthiness of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used across various domains, particularly in science, news, and encyclopedias. While neutral in register, it's important to provide context when using the phrase, clarifying the specific reasons for questioning the reliability. Alternatives like "dubious dependability" or "uncertain trustworthiness" can be used to add nuance, depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious dependability

Replaces "reliability" with "dependability" and "questionable" with "dubious", emphasizing uncertainty.

uncertain trustworthiness

Substitutes "reliability" with "trustworthiness" and "questionable" with "uncertain", highlighting a lack of confidence.

suspect validity

Uses "validity" instead of "reliability", focusing on the accuracy or truth of something, and "suspect" instead of "questionable".

tenuous credibility

Replaces "reliability" with "credibility" and "questionable" with "tenuous", suggesting a weak basis for belief.

unreliable nature

Changes the structure to focus on the "nature" of something being unreliable, rather than the reliability itself being questionable.

problematic dependability

Uses "problematic" to highlight the issues associated with the item's dependability.

debatable soundness

Focuses on the "soundness" of something being questionable or open to debate.

flawed accuracy

Emphasizes the presence of "flaws" affecting the accuracy, which implies a lack of reliability.

unconfirmed validity

Indicates that the validity of something hasn't been properly confirmed or established.

open to doubt reliability

Highlights the fact that the reliability of something is not secure but rather it could be questioned.

FAQs

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

You can use "questionable reliability" to describe something whose reliability is not certain. For example, "The witness's testimony was deemed to have "questionable reliability" due to inconsistencies in their statements."

What are some alternatives to "questionable reliability"?

Alternatives to "questionable reliability" include "dubious dependability", "uncertain trustworthiness", or "suspect validity". The best alternative will depend on the specific context.

Is it better to say "questionable reliability" or "low reliability"?

"Questionable reliability" implies uncertainty or doubt about the reliability, while "low reliability" suggests that the reliability has been measured and found to be deficient. The choice depends on whether you are expressing doubt or stating a measured fact.

What does it mean when something has "questionable reliability"?

When something has "questionable reliability", it means that its reliability is uncertain or not fully trustworthy. This could be due to various reasons such as lack of evidence, conflicting information, or a history of inconsistent performance.