refute of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refute of" is not correct or usable in written English.
You can use the phrase "refute" (or "refutation") in written English to express the idea of disproving or contradicting a statement or argument. For example: "The lawyer presented several pieces of evidence to refute the testimony of the witness."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I also stumbled on Guy Pearse's lecture on this (below) and find it hard to refute (of course there's selection bias by me because this was my concern from the get-go).

The New York Times

Can we hope that his artistic statement is in refute of anti-Semitism, and that he is indeed sympathetic to the pain suffered by everyone who has suffered from the holocaust?... Let's judge this work by it's own merits... Megan Connelly, Roselle Park, N.J.: It's too bad Mel didn't hang it all up on the high-note that was "Braveheart".

The New York Times

But Hellman explained the "Neg" refers this genre's refute of traditionally safe R&B subject matter, and its inclination to explore topics like homosexual relationships and asceticism, as characterized by artists like Frank Ocean and The Cool Kids.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Not just outright misspellings but use of refute instead of rebut, disinterested instead of uninterested, hung instead of hanged.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's more about a manifestation of their broader questioning (at times refuting) of the status quo.

Huffington Post

Chen's statement does not refute any of the details of the story.

Vice

And I refute (suggestions of an intimate relationship).

The Guardian - Sport

-What, if any, facts do you have to support or refute one of these points?

The New York Times

We refute all of the allegations that have been made against us".

The Guardian

As in imperial times, few will be able to refute claims of success.

The Economist

A Leigh Day spokesman said: "We refute all of the allegations that have been made against us".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "refute of". Use "refute" directly followed by the statement you are disproving, or use "refutation of" followed by the statement.

Common error

The verb "refute" does not take the preposition "of". Using "refute of" can create grammatically incorrect sentences. Remember to use "refute" directly followed by the claim you are disproving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refute of" is typically intended to function as a verb followed by a preposition, aiming to express the action of disproving something. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect, as highlighted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refute of" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the verb "refute" should be followed directly by the claim being disproven, without the preposition "of". While examples exist in news, science, and wiki contexts, these instances are considered errors. Instead, use "refute" directly, or "refutation of" when a noun is required. Alternative phrases like "rebuttal of", "denial of", and "disproof of" can also be considered depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disproof of

Emphasizes establishing something as false or incorrect through evidence.

rebuttal of

Replaces "refute" with "rebuttal", emphasizing the act of countering an argument; uses a noun instead of a verb.

denial of

Focuses on negating the validity or truth of something, instead of actively disproving it.

rejection of

Indicates a refusal to accept or consider something.

contradiction of

Highlights the inconsistency or opposition to a statement or claim.

invalidation of

Emphasizes rendering something without legal or factual force, rather than direct disproof.

challenge to

Presents a questioning or contesting of a statement, often less conclusive than refutation.

disavowal of

Indicates a rejection or denial of responsibility or support for something.

negation of

Focuses on making something ineffective or null, often in a more abstract or mathematical sense.

overturning of

Suggests reversing a decision or established belief, often in a legal or formal context.

FAQs

How to properly use "refute" in a sentence?

The verb "refute" is typically followed directly by the claim or argument being disproven. For example, "The evidence strongly "refutes the accusations"." Avoid using a preposition like "of" after "refute".

What is a correct alternative to "refute of"?

A correct alternative would be "refutation of", but using "refute" directly is often more concise and grammatically sound. For instance, instead of "a refute of the claim", you would say "a refutation of the claim" or, more simply, "refute the claim".

Is it ever correct to say "refute of"?

No, "refute of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "refute" does not require a preposition before the object it acts upon. Use "refute" directly followed by the claim you are disproving.

What's the difference between "refute" and "rebut"?

"Refute" means to prove something is false or incorrect, while "rebut" means to offer arguments or evidence that contradict a claim. While both involve opposition, "refute" implies a stronger and more conclusive disproof.