shedding doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

"shedding doubt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a lack of certainty or to suggest that someone is questioning the truth of a particular statement or idea. For example, "The CEO's explanation for the company's losses was met with skepticism, shedding doubt on their version of events."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, another recent study did not show evidence of a separate phenotype [ 20], shedding doubt on this phenomenon.

Cancer Causes and Control

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Consequently, if Hoechst-positive cells do not grow in vivo or in vitro, the reason could be a direct toxic effect of the dye, shedding doubts on the reliability of the experiments.

BMC Cancer

How one lunchtime conversation shed doubt on the scientific understanding of intelligent life.

Britannica

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been suggested to prevent cardiovascular disease, while some intervention studies have shed doubt on this concept.

Maturitas

However, privatisation would be unlikely to have public support and economists have shed doubt on whether it will result in lower bills.

The Guardian

However, the rulings shed doubt only on certain aspects of the men's multiple convictions and stop well short of acquittal.

The Guardian - Business

The general interpretation of corpus studies suggests that readers obtain parafoveal lexical information from the upcoming word before they have finished identifying the current word, while the experimental manipulations shed doubt on this claim.

Journal of Memory and Language

"Our stage resonates throughout the world," said Professor Sander, although a recent discovery of an original Globe facade has shed doubt on the accuracy of some of the dimensions calculated by Dr. Adams.

The New York Times

However, a Barclays spokesman in London shed doubt on the veracity of this CV, saying: "We have no record of an Anna Chapman who worked at Barclays Capital between those dates".

The Guardian

Recent measurements of the direct response of premixed hydrocarbon flames to acoustic pressure fluctuations have shed doubt on the validity of analytical models that use irreversible one-step chemistry (Wangher et al., 2008) [1], and suggest that more realistic chemical kinetic models are needed to fully describe the unsteady dynamics of premixed flames.

Combustion and Flame

"By assuming the role of lender of last resort for highly indebted member states, the bank would overextend its mandate and shed doubt on the legitimacy of its independence," Jens Weidmann, president of the German Bundesbank and a member of the central bank's governing council, said Tuesday in Berlin.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shedding doubt" when you want to express that new information or evidence is weakening the credibility or certainty of a claim or idea.

Common error

Avoid using "shedding doubt" with abstract subjects that cannot literally be illuminated or questioned. Instead, opt for phrases like "raising concerns" or "highlighting inconsistencies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shedding doubt" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate that new information or evidence is weakening the credibility or certainty of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shedding doubt" is used to express that new information is weakening the credibility of something. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in writing. While relatively rare, the phrase appears in a variety of contexts, including news media, science, and formal business communication. It’s important to avoid using "shedding doubt" with abstract subjects that cannot be literally illuminated or questioned. Alternatives such as "casting doubt" or "raising questions" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

casting doubt

Replaces "shedding" with "casting", maintaining the core meaning of creating uncertainty.

raising questions

Shifts the focus to posing questions that imply uncertainty, rather than directly expressing doubt.

calling into question

More formal and emphatic, highlighting a challenge to the validity or credibility of something.

undermining confidence

Focuses on weakening trust or belief in something.

creating skepticism

Emphasizes the generation of a doubting attitude.

eroding certainty

Highlights the gradual reduction of confidence or assurance.

instilling uncertainty

Focuses on the act of introducing doubt or lack of sureness.

giving rise to suspicion

Suggests that the phrase implies a degree of distrust.

fostering disbelief

Implies an environment of distrust.

planting seeds of doubt

Emphasizes the subtle introduction of uncertainty.

FAQs

How can I use "shedding doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "shedding doubt" to indicate that new information is weakening the credibility of something. For example, "The new evidence is "shedding doubt" on the original theory".

What can I say instead of "shedding doubt"?

You can use alternatives like "casting doubt", "raising questions", or "calling into question" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "shedding doubt" or "shedding a doubt"?

"Shedding doubt" is the correct and more common usage. "Shedding a doubt" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "shedding doubt" and "removing doubt"?

"Shedding doubt" introduces uncertainty, while "removing doubt" eliminates uncertainty. They are opposite in meaning.