questionable significance

USAGE SUMMARY

"questionable significance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to talk about a situation where something seems to point to a certain conclusion without giving any definite evidence of it. For example, "The witness's testimony had questionable significance due to his prior criminal record."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Attempts to find size-independent effects using body weight as a reference variable obscure size relationships owing to independent variation of body size and give phylogenies of questionable significance.

Princeton University

As a rheumatologist, I am aware that M.R.I.'s for patients with knee pain, especially in those over 50, will almost always reveal an abnormality of questionable significance in a cartilage or ligament.

The New York Times

If French fashion seemed of questionable significance before that moment, it became even less justifiable as skirts resembling swatches of AstroTurf appeared on the runway while financial advisers on CNN were warning investors to put their money in recession-proof companies like those that make toothpaste.

The New York Times - Style

It is this badge of influence and his reputation for a lack of interest in polemics that give weight to the Arizona Republican's assertion that Mr. Obama has given away more than a year "with nothing to show for it" — not excepting a still-to-be-ratified Start nuclear arms treaty of questionable significance that he says magnifies an indecisive or even wobbling approach on Iran.

The New York Times

On the data, Ebersman said "This is of questionable significance … but we wanted to share this with you now because we get a lot of questions about teens".

TechCrunch

Including this one data point would skew the distribution towards an eruption frequency of 100% after a temperature measurement of less than 10 °C, which we discarded due to questionable significance.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Standardized effect sizes of 2 to 3 SD were considered large, whereas an effect size <0.5 SD was considered of questionable clinical significance even if statistically significant (14 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A meta-analysis of 23 studies conducted by Paul and co-workers concluded that: "any lithium-associated increase in serum creatinine is quantitatively small and of questionable clinical significance;" this is despite a significant increase in serum creatinine levels in several studies that were analyzed (Paul et al. 2010).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Although mean changes in affective empathy for men in each component of the course were statistically significant, they were small enough to be of questionable practical significance.

BMC Medical Education

The very low (but significant) differentiation observed at the microsatellite loci is of questionable biological significance [37] especially considering the fact that two of the nine microsatellite loci used (Gmo8 and Gmo34) are outliers in genetic differentiation [38], [39] being influenced either by direct or hitch-hiking selection.

Plosone

However, although these changes were statistically significant, regression coefficients indicated that they were extremely small and therefore of questionable practical significance.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "questionable significance", clearly articulate the reasons for doubting the significance. Provide context and evidence to support your assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "questionable significance" when the insignificance is definitively proven. The phrase suggests uncertainty, not absolute absence of importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "questionable significance" primarily functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun or concept to indicate that its importance or value is uncertain or open to doubt. It often introduces a degree of skepticism or critical evaluation, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

28%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "questionable significance" is a versatile expression used to denote uncertainty or doubt regarding the importance or value of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in academic, scientific, and news contexts. Common alternatives include "dubious significance" and "uncertain significance". When using this phrase, it's best to provide context explaining why the significance is being questioned. Overstating the lack of significance, however, should be avoided. This phrase suggests uncertainty, not a complete absence of importance. Overall, "questionable significance" is a useful tool for expressing reasoned skepticism in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious significance

Replaces "questionable" with "dubious", implying a stronger sense of doubt or suspicion about the significance.

uncertain significance

Substitutes "questionable" with "uncertain", focusing on the lack of clarity or definiteness regarding the significance.

doubtful significance

Uses "doubtful" instead of "questionable", suggesting a higher degree of skepticism about the significance.

debatable significance

Emphasizes that the significance is open to discussion and disagreement.

arguable significance

Similar to "debatable significance", but can also suggest that the significance is not immediately obvious and requires justification.

limited significance

Indicates that the significance exists, but is small or restricted in scope.

tenuous significance

Suggests that the significance is weak and easily challenged.

marginal significance

Implies that the significance is barely noticeable or important.

negligible significance

Indicates that the significance is so small as to be practically nonexistent.

inconsequential significance

Replaces "questionable" with "inconsequential", highlighting the lack of importance or impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "questionable significance" to describe something that may not be as meaningful or important as it initially seems. For example, "The study's findings were of "questionable significance" due to the small sample size."

What are some alternatives to "questionable significance"?

Alternatives include "dubious significance", "uncertain significance", or "doubtful significance", depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

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

Yes, "questionable significance" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in academic or professional contexts where critical evaluation is necessary. Its use suggests a reasoned assessment rather than a dismissal.

What's the difference between "questionable significance" and "limited significance"?

"Questionable significance" implies that the importance is uncertain or doubtful, while "limited significance" suggests that the importance exists but is restricted in scope or impact.