scant evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"scant evidence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a minimal or insufficient amount of evidence to prove or support something. For example, "There is scant evidence to support the notion that the accused is guilty of the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So far there has been scant evidence.

The Economist

It seemed scant evidence to go on.

The Guardian

But there is scant evidence that will happen.

The New York Times

But there is scant evidence this new approach lowers costs.

The New York Times - Health

Moreover, there is scant evidence of any editing.

The New York Times - Books

There is scant evidence that this has been considered important.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Taser has scant evidence for that claim.

The New York Times

But there is scant evidence to support the link.

The Guardian

Predictably, there is scant evidence to confirm Mr. Clark's story.

The New York Times

But there is scant evidence that this was actually happening.

The Guardian - Opinion

There has been scant evidence of either claim.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scant evidence" when you want to emphasize that the available evidence is not only limited in quantity but also insufficient to support a claim or conclusion.

Common error

Avoid drawing strong conclusions or making definitive statements when the evidence is described as "scant". Acknowledge the uncertainty and limitations imposed by the lack of sufficient evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant evidence" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates the presence of some evidence, but emphasizes its inadequacy or insufficiency. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scant evidence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase indicating a limited and insufficient amount of evidence. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia and Science it serves to express skepticism or doubt about a claim. When using this phrase, be mindful of overstating the implications and remember that this is not to be used in informal context, but in scenarios where precision and objectivity is needed. Alternatives include "limited evidence", "meager evidence", and "insufficient evidence", each carrying slightly different nuances. Overall, "scant evidence" is a valuable tool for nuanced communication, particularly when discussing the strength of support for a given assertion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited evidence

Replaces "scant" with "limited", emphasizing the restricted quantity of evidence.

meager evidence

Substitutes "scant" with "meager", highlighting the inadequacy or poor quality of the evidence.

sparse evidence

Uses "sparse" instead of "scant", focusing on the thinly distributed or infrequent nature of the evidence.

little evidence

Employs "little" to replace "scant", indicating a small amount of evidence.

minimal evidence

Replaces "scant" with "minimal", suggesting the least possible amount of evidence.

negligible evidence

Substitutes "scant" with "negligible", emphasizing that the evidence is so small it can be disregarded.

insufficient evidence

Uses "insufficient" instead of "scant", directly stating that the evidence is not enough.

a lack of evidence

Rephrases to highlight the absence of evidence rather than its scarcity.

a paucity of evidence

Replaces "scant" with "paucity", indicating a scarcity or deficiency of evidence, often in a more formal tone.

thin evidence

Employs "thin" to replace "scant", indicating a weak or unsubstantial amount of evidence.

FAQs

How to use "scant evidence" in a sentence?

You can use "scant evidence" to indicate that there is very little evidence available to support a claim. For example, "There is "scant evidence" to suggest that the new policy will be effective."

What can I say instead of "scant evidence"?

You can use alternatives like "limited evidence", "meager evidence", or "insufficient evidence" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scant evidence" or "scarce evidence"?

Both ""scant evidence"" and "scarce evidence" are correct and can be used interchangeably to describe a limited amount of evidence. However, "scant" might subtly emphasize the inadequacy of the evidence more than "scarce".

What's the difference between "scant evidence" and "lack of evidence"?

"Scant evidence" implies that some evidence exists, but it is minimal and insufficient. "Lack of evidence" suggests there is no evidence at all to support a claim.